Channel Islands Health Services to Review Prostate Cancer Screening Guidelines

Health authorities in Guernsey and Jersey are set to evaluate the conclusions of an NHS advisory review concerning prostate cancer testing, with the aim of deciding if their local provisions require modification. This consideration comes after Olympic athlete Sir Chris Hoy, aged 48, advocated for increased screening among younger males, following his disclosure of advanced, terminal cancer that has metastasized to his bones. Guernsey’s Public Health released a statement indicating its intention to “look carefully at the results of the NHS review and consider the local applicability of this.” Concurrently, Jersey’s Health Department stated that any screening initiative implemented in the UK “will likely be adopted” on the island. At present, a standard PSA screening program for prostate cancer is not in place across the UK, Guernsey, or Jersey. The NHS attributes this to the potential for “unreliable” results. Owen Cole, a consultant urologist with Guernsey’s Medical Specialist Group (MSG), commented: “Even though we know that screening for prostate cancer will reduce deaths, screen programmes for any sort of cancer do have negatives as well.” He added, “We end up investigating a lot of people who don’t have prostate cancer and a lot of prostate cancer that isn’t going to cause problems and may cause anxiety in patients.” Mr. Cole suggests that targeting screening efforts towards individuals with a higher risk of developing problematic prostate cancer represents the most effective approach. He stated: “There are studies underway at the moment that will confirm that [targeting at risk groups]. So I think at the moment there is a reluctance to roll out a screen programme that covers the entire population with good evidence that it shouldn’t be done.” According to Mr. Cole, males with a family history of prostate or breast cancers, alongside those of Afro-Caribbean descent, face an elevated likelihood of developing the condition earlier in life and experiencing more aggressive forms of cancer. In both Guernsey and Jersey, prostate cancer ranks among the three most prevalent cancer types, following non-melanoma skin cancers. Jersey records the highest incidence of prostate cancer diagnoses within the Channel Islands, surpassing the average rates observed in the south west and England overall. This data is sourced from the Channel Islands cancer report 2020, which indicates that approximately 275 men per 100,000 in Jersey received a prostate cancer diagnosis between 2012 and 2016. Over the identical timeframe, Guernsey registered 239.1 prostate cancer cases per 100,000, while England recorded 232.8. Nevertheless, statistics reveal that Guernsey experiences a greater mortality rate from the disease compared to other Channel Islands and England collectively. Ben Hughes, a urologist in Jersey, stated that the island would be observing the continuing UK review “with interest.” He advised: “In the meantime, we know that prostate cancer mainly affects men over 50, and that a man’s risk increases as he gets older. I would encourage all men, aged between 50 and 80, to discuss having a PSA test with their GP. “If someone has a family history of prostate cancer or have a particular risk factor, then they should consider asking for a PSA blood test at the age of 45.” Deputy Rob Ward, who serves as Jersey’s Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning, received a prostate cancer diagnosis in 2022. He commented: “I still think I was lucky because I had a diagnosis early, if you are diagnosed early you have options for treatment.” He added: “I’m happy to say I have been cancer free for two years now, I have never been more grateful to the health services for helping me out.” He urged, “Men need to get themselves tested, not ignore their health conditions because there is life after cancer.” Mr. Ward indicated that he experienced no cancer symptoms at the time of his testing. For further updates, follow BBC Guernsey and BBC Jersey on X and Facebook. Story ideas can be submitted to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Details on its external linking approach are available.