Prostate cancer has become the most common organ-based cancer in men, doctors at the WONCA conference were told. However, there are major deficiencies in public awareness of screening for the disease, according to an Irish GP who carried out a five-year study into the condition.
Dr Tom Brett, a GP based in Perth in Western Australia, said GPs can help their patients by taking an active role in the diagnosis and management of prostate cancer.
Of the patients who took part in the survey of men aged over 40 years, 80 per cent agreed to the physical rectal examination necessary for early detection of the disease, and 99 per cent agreed to the blood test.
"Patients want to know more about their health and they want to find out early. They will accept the test even though it is believed that they will not," said Dr Brett.
In the past five years in his practice 28 men have been confirmed with prostate cancer, nine have died, six directly due to the cancer. "It is not a benign illness. Up to recently it was being picked up at a stage when you could not offer a cure. But if you pick it up an earlier stage there is a much better chance of survival. If it is confined to the prostate you can achieve total cure."
Dr Brett said prostate cancer was the second-most common cause of cancer death in many countries worldwide but clinical research in general practice was "scanty". He said general practitioners had a major role to play in ensuring their prostate cancer patients are well informed about the nature of their condition and the treatment options available.