Decision box

Of these 760 men identified as having a negative screening result, about 27 actually have prostate cancer. These men have been falsely reassured.

For every 1,000 men screened, about 240 require additional tests to confirm the presence of prostate cancer. Of these, for approximately 140 it will have been a false alarm as they do not actually have prostate cancer. These men will have experienced unnecessary anxiety.

Of these 140 men who received a false alarm, about 120 have an unnecessary biopsy. Of these: 

• about 2 are hospitalized;
• about 28 experience moderate to severe complications (pain, fever, temporary urinary problems).

For every 1,000 men screened, about 100 receive a prostate cancer diagnosis after screening, and the majority will be treated.

Of the 100 men whose diagnosis is confirmed, about 40 would never have known they had cancer if they had not been diagnosed. Overdiagnosis is the discovery of cancer that would have never been detected without screening. This cancer would never have had an impact on the health or life of the person. If these men decide to undergo treatment, they could experience harmful effects of unnecessary treatments such as impotence or urinary incontinence.

For every 1,000 men who choose not to get screened, 6 die of prostate cancer. Of these 6 men, 1 death by prostate cancer could have been avoided if the man had opted to get screened and treated.

For every 1,000 men who choose not to get screened, 68 have cancer diagnosis after the onset of symptoms. On average, cancer is more severe in these men compared to men who have been screened.