ARNHEM, The Netherlands, September 3 /PRNewswire/ --

- Shame and Undetected Symptoms are Among the Key Reasons Why Middle-Aged 
European Males Neglect to Seek Medical Help When Experiencing Prostate 
Ailments. Medical Experts Say a Lot More Needs to be Done to Boost Awareness 
on Prostate Diseases Among Europeans

"As men get older, the risk of prostate disease increases. Family
history, African ancestry and a diet high in animal fat and low in fruit,
vegetables and fish may also increase the risk of prostate disease. All men,
especially those above the age of 50, should be aware of this and visit their
urologist if they are worried," according to the European Association of
Urology (EAU).

The prostate is a small gland the size of walnut that lies below the
bladder is responsible for producing the clear fluid that carries sperm and
grows slowly as men get older. Doctors say men above 50 years old are the
most vulnerable to prostate ailments such as enlarged prostate (benign
prostatic hyperplasia or BPH), acute and chronic prostatitis and prostate
cancer.

Prostate ailments, particularly early malignant cancers, often remain
undetected and recent studies show that timely diagnosis and medical therapy
can prove to be beneficial in most cases. In a campaign to alert people of
the need for timely intervention, national urological societies across Europe
are holding an annual Prostate Awareness Day on September 14. The EAU is
among the key organisations that are supporting pan-European efforts to
clarify and bring to the public current issues and developments on prostate
diseases.

This year, the EAU has defined a few key issues:

- Prostate cancer can only be cured when it is detected in its
early stages, i.e. when the disease is organ-confined. The PSA test (a
simple blood test) and PSA kinetics - PSA velocity or PSA doubling time -
are helpful tools to recognise patients at risk for having prostate
cancer.

- Cancers diagnosed at an early state of development do not always
need treatment. Active monitoring is a reasonable option that still
allows to initiate treatment during follow-up when needed.

- Hormonal therapy severely impacts quality of life but when
needed, the side effects can be reduced by instructions about nutrition,
physical activity and psychological support.

- Most men will develop benign prostate disease and many of them
will develop complaints for which medical and surgical treatments are
available and both are generally highly effective.

The EAU is distributing promotional materials such as posters and
brochures in support of initiatives from other medical institutions. To
access the promotional materials, please visit European Prostate Awareness
Day: European Association of Urology.

EAU to launch online Prostate-Risk Indicator

The European Association of Urology (EAU) will soon launch an online
prostate cancer risk assessment tool that will aid urologists, family
physicians and men aged 55 years and older to properly evaluate the chance of
developing prostate cancer.

Developed by the Rotterdam group of the European Randomized Study of
Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC), the Prostate-Risk Indicator is the
first of its kind to predict the risks of men using a multivariate-based
assessment. Screening for prostate cancer, now the second leading cause of
cancer death in men in Western Europe and the US, involves three diagnostic
tests which may indicate prostatic biopsy, namely: the digital rectal
examination (DRE), the transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) and the serum PSA
(Prostate Specific Antigen) level.

According to Prof. Fritz Schröder, chairman of the ERSPC's Scientific
Committee, the indicator serves to provide men with balanced information on
risks and benefits of undergoing testing for prostate cancer and whether he
should proceed to consult his family doctor.

The indicator is based on data gathered in the Rotterdam area study on
the first 6,288 participants who underwent screening. The men in the study
were tested for PSA and any abnormalities in their prostates were also
evaluated by DRE and ultrasound. The indicator works in four assessment
levels and is applicable to men aged 55 to 74 years old, but not to men of
African-American descent.

Levels 1 and 2 are meant to inform men who want an initial risk
assessment. At Level 2, a PSA determination will have to be added and the
question whether to consult a urologist could be answered at this stage. At
Level 3, which takes into account the DRE result and TRUS determination of
prostate volume, more solid information is provided about the chance of
having a positive biopsy. Level 4 is applicable to men who have a positive
biopsy and the assessment includes biopsy related parameters that will enable
both urologist and patient to make a decision whether to undergo active
treatment or active surveillance.

The English version of the Prostate-Risk Indicator, owned by the
Dutch-run SWOP

(Stichting Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek Prostaatkanker or the Foundation
for Prostate Cancer Research), will be licensed to the EAU which in turn will
offer the tool on one of its official website pages. A Dutch version of the
indicator has been completed and both the Dutch and the English versions will
be officially launched on September 15, which marks the European Prostate
Awareness Day.