Medical, social, and economic perspectives of health care development. Prostate Cancer Early Diagnosis and Screening Program
Aim. To improve diagnostics and screening of prostate cancer to ensure early detection of malignant tumors.Materials and methods. We analyzed the population size and structure in the region in 2005-2010. The primary diagnostics of prostate cancer in regional healthcare institutions allowed the detection of locally advanced tumors and generalized cancer. Such diagnostic approaches can produce only accidental diagnosis since they lack proper systematization, organization, and control.Results. We have developed and implemented into clinical practice a long-term Program for Prostate Cancer Early Diagnosis and Screening. It includes a diagnostic algorithm for prostate cancer that was modified for clinical use. Screening starts with the PSA blood test performed annually. Patients with PSA level >10 ng/mL should undergo additional diagnostic procedures. The Program implies active use of currently available information technologies to implement a unified routing scheme for cancer patients, execute measures for early cancer diagnosis, and warrant promptness and reliability of the cancer registry.Conclusion. Implementation of the long-term Program for Prostate Cancer Early Diagnosis and Screening will help to improve prostate cancer diagnosis, and, therefore, treatment outcomes.