Dr. Anna Wilkinson, a family physician with a special interest in oncology at the Ottawa Hospital has received a $10,000 PCFC clinical grant to research how changes in PSA screening recommendations have impacted prostate cancer outcomes in Canada. Her study will provide valuable insights to help improve future screening guidelines in improving prostate cancer screening practices in Canada.
Dr. Wilkinson is scheduled to join us in person as a guest speaker on Thursday 20 November 2025.
Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among Canadian men, excluding non-melanoma skin cancers, and remains a significant cause of cancer-related deaths. Early stage prostate cancer has excellent survival, but advanced stages see a marked decrease in survival.
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) can be used to screen for prostate cancer, finding cases before they present with symptoms at a later stage. PSA screening is controversial due to concerns about over-diagnosis and unnecessary treatment. Over the years screening recommendations have evolved, influencing screening practices. It is important to monitor prostate cancer outcomes relative to screening recommendations to assess the impact of any recommendations.
This study aims to analyze Canadian Cancer Registry data to explore how changing recommendations for or against PSA screening have influenced prostate cancer outcomes. By examining trends in prostate cancer incidence, mortality, and stage distribution across age groups relative to screening guideline changes, the study will provide insights into whether the recommendation against prostate cancer screening has led to worse prostate cancer outcomes.
The findings will contribute to a better understanding of how prostate cancer screening guidelines impact prostate cancer detection and outcomes. Ultimately, this research aims to inform future guidelines to improve prostate cancer screening practices in Canada.