Voluntary screening program for prostate cancer: detection rate and cost.
In a community-wide screening program conducted in Jacksonville, Florida, 564 participants received free screening for prostate cancer. Frequency of positive results of prostate-specific antigen measurement and digital rectal examination was comparable to that found in similar programs in other communities. The estimated cost for each participant was $231, and the cost to discover each cancer was $7,240. If one also includes initial therapy in cost estimates, then the cost per participant was $520, and the cost to find and treat each patient was $16,300. The value of screening for prostate cancer must be judged by treatment outcome and underlying costs.
Abramson
N
N
Division of Hematology-Oncology, Baptist Regional Cancer Institute, Baptist Medical Center, Jacksonville, FL 32207.
Cotton
S
S
Eckels
R
R
Baldock
J
J
D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy / Q000191:economics; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D005431:Florida; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000191:economics; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen