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The media and prostate cancer screening

Suzanne K Steginga and Robert (aka Frank) A Gardiner
Med J Aust 2007; 187 (9): . || doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2007.tb01387.x
Published online: 5 November 2007

Provision of incorrect information or incorrect data interpretation does not serve anyone well

In this issue of the Journal, MacKenzie and colleagues present data to show that, over an 18-month period, media reports about prostate cancer were dominated by statements emphasising Australian men’s risk of prostate cancer, encouraging screening for early detection, and providing reassurance about side effects for treatments that emphasise emerging technologies (→ "The news is [not] all good": misrepresentations and inaccuracies in Australian news media reports on prostate cancer screening).1 In particular, they draw attention to rhetoric that unequivocally supports screening, which would seem to be irresponsible, given the lack of definitive data to show that population-based screening will reduce mortality.


  • 1 The Cancer Council Queensland, Brisbane, QLD.
  • 2 Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD.
  • 3 University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD.
  • 4 Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Brisbane, QLD.


Correspondence: f.gardiner@uq.edu.au

  • 1. MacKenzie R, Chapman S, Barratt A, Holding S. “The news is [not] all good”: misrepresentations and inaccuracies in Australian news media reports on prostate cancer screening. Med J Aust 2007; 187: 507-510. <MJA full text>
  • 2. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and Australasian Association of Cancer Registries. Cancer in Australia: an overview 2006. Cancer Series No. 37. Canberra: AIHW, 2007. (AIHW Cat. No. CAN 32.) http://www.aihw.gov.au/publications/index.cfm/title/10476 (accessed Sep 2007).
  • 3. Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand. PSA testing for prostate cancer. Sydney: USANZ, 1999. http://www.usanz.org.au/consumer_health/index.jsp?a=1126157272 (accessed Sep 2007).
  • 4. Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. Guidelines for preventive activities in general practice (The Red Book). 6th ed. Melbourne: RACGP, 2005. http://www.racgp.org.au/guidelines/redbook (accessed Sep 2007).
  • 5. The Cancer Council Australia. Prostate cancer screening position statement. Sydney: The Cancer Council Australia, 2005. http://www.cancer.org.au/policy/positionstatements/prostatecancer.htm (accessed Sep 2007).
  • 6. Andrology Australia. Early detection of prostate cancer. Melbourne: Andrology Australia, 2007. http://www.andrologyaustralia.org/dbClinicalGuidelines.asp?pageCode=CLINICALGUIDELINES (accessed Sep 2007).
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  • 9. Etzioni R, Penson DF, Legler JM, et al. Overdiagnosis due to prostate-specific antigen screening: lessons from US prostate cancer incidence trends. J Natl Cancer Inst 2002; 94: 981-990.
  • 10. Parker C, Muston D, Melia J, et al. A model of the natural history of screen-detected prostate cancer, and the effect of radical treatment on overall survival. Br J Cancer 2006; 95: 1122-1123.
  • 11. Schover LR, Fouladi RT, Warneke CL, et al. Defining sexual outcomes after treatment for localized prostate cancer. Cancer 2002; 95: 1773-1785.
  • 12. Newton FJ, Burney S, Millar JL, et al. Disease-specific quality of life among patients with localized prostate cancer: an Australian perspective. BJU Int 2006; 97: 1179-1183.
  • 13. Klotz L. Active surveillance versus radical treatment for favorable-risk localized prostate cancer. Curr Treat Options Oncol 2006; 7: 355-362.
  • 14. Hewitson P, Austoker J. Part 2: Patient information, informed decision-making and the psycho-social impact of prostate-specific antigen testing. BJU Int 2005; 95 Suppl 3: 16-32.
  • 15. Steginga SK, Pinnock C, Jackson C, Gianduzzo T. Shared decision making and informed choice for the early detection of prostate cancer in primary care. BJU Int 2005; 96: 1209-1218.

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