Organised prostate cancer testing

Organising for equality and development

There are several purposes for organising prostate cancer testing. The main ones are to make testing more equal and to streamline processing and facilitate the evaluation of supplementary tests that can make testing more accurate. A review of possible advantages and disadvantages is provided in the recommendations document.

Based on the agreement between the state and SKR (Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions), the Confederation of Regional Cancer Centres has the task of supporting the regions in organising prostate cancer testing of men without symptoms. The work is coordinated by a National Working Group with representatives from each healthcare region.

The background to the assignment is that the National Board of Health and Welfare advises against screening for prostate cancer, but nevertheless believes that current PSA testing needs to be made more structured and equal.

The agreement between the State and SKR (information in Swedish)

Recommendations

RCC’s collaborative foundation with recommendations for how prostate cancer testing should be organised:

Recommendations on organised prostate cancer testing, 2024 (pdf, new window)

Difference between organised testing and screening

Organised testing should not be confused with screening. The National Board of Health and Welfare advises against screening with PSA tests and explains the difference as follows:

“Organised PSA testing means that men are given clear information about the advantages and disadvantages of PSA testing and subsequently make individual decisions about whether or not to get tested. Organised PSA testing should therefore not be confused with a national screening programme where testing is recommended, and a direct invitation to be tested is sent to men. Conducting organised PSA testing in the context of research and development is fully in line with the recommendations of the National Board of Health and Welfare in the national guidelines for prostate cancer.”