Skipping Prostate Screenings Increases Cancer Death Risk by 45%, Major Study Finds

Watan-A study conducted over twenty years in seven European countries has shown that men who neglect prostate screening are at a higher risk of dying from cancer.

The study, which was based on data from the Prostate Cancer Randomized Screening Initiative and presented at the European Association of Urology Congress in Madrid, revealed that avoiding prostate screening increases the risk of death from cancer by up to 45%.

Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer among men in 112 countries around the world, and its incidence is expected to double by the year 2040. This disease can be detected through measuring the level of a specific prostate antigen in the blood known as PSA, which increases the chances of early detection and recovery, and reduces the need for critical surgical interventions in late-stage cases.

One in Six Men Skip Prostate Screening, Facing 45% Higher Death Risk

Among the more than 72,000 men included in the study, it was found that around 12,000 did not undergo prostate screening—representing one in every six men—which increased their chances of dying from prostate cancer by 45% compared to those who did get screened.

René Linnen, head of the study team from the Erasmus University Cancer Research Institute in the Netherlands, stated that men who neglect prostate screenings may be the type of people who do not prioritize healthcare—meaning they are less likely to engage in healthy behaviors and tend to avoid preventive care in general.

Dr. Tobias Nordström, a urology specialist at the Karolinska Research Center in Sweden, said the study confirms that prostate screenings are more important than previously believed. He added, in statements reported by the science research website SciTech Daily, “We must understand why some people choose to skip these screenings and determine how that impacts the worsening of their condition when they are eventually diagnosed with cancer.”