Expert Consultation on Prostate Cancer Screening and Early Detection in Latin America and the Caribbean. Meeting Report.

Abstract

In Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men over 50 years of age, with approximately 152,000 new cases and 51,000 deaths each year. If measures are not taken, the incidence of prostate cancer in LAC will increase by 84% to 280,000 new cases, while mortality will double to 100,000 deaths by 2030. The Caribbean countries, notably Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica, have the highest prostate cancer rates. Late-stage diagnosis of prostate cancer contributes to the high mortality rates in LAC; however, screening and early detection of prostate cancer present a number of challenges. The use of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) remains controversial and the scientific community has not yet reached consensus on population-based prostate cancer screening strategies. As a result, the World Health Organization has not yet developed specific recommendations for prostate cancer screening, although guidance has been developed on the health system requirements for cancer screening and early detection programs.