Men who regularly avoid prostate cancer screening appointments are much more likely to die from the disease, according to a large international study. This new research sheds light on a group of men who face significantly higher risks because they choose not to attend these life-saving checkups.
The findings come from the European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC), the largest study of its kind in the world. The results were presented at the European Association of Urology Congress in Madrid.
Researchers analyzed data from over 160,000 men across seven countries: Finland, the Netherlands, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, Belgium, and Spain. The men were between 55 and 69 years old and were followed for up to 20 years.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in more than 100 countries. Cases are expected to double by 2040. Early detection through regular screening can help catch the disease before it spreads, making treatment easier and more effective. It can also save healthcare systems money by avoiding the high costs of treating advanced cancer.
The usual screening method involves a simple blood test that checks for a substance called prostate-specific antigen (PSA). High PSA levels can be a sign of prostate cancer, although they can also be caused by other conditions. Long-term data has shown that PSA screening can reduce the risk of dying from prostate cancer by about 20%.
In this new study, researchers looked specifically at men who were invited to screening but never attended. Out of more than 72,000 men who were invited, about one in six (over 12,400) skipped all appointments. These men were found to be 45% more likely to die from prostate cancer compared to those who did attend their screenings.
The study also compared these results to a separate group of men who were never invited to screening. The men who did attend had a 23% lower risk of dying from prostate cancer, while those who were invited but never went had a 39% higher risk of death.
Dr. Renée Leenen, who led the analysis, pointed out that men who skip screenings may also avoid other types of healthcare. “They might not just be avoiding this one test,” she said, “but may also ignore other health advice and checkups. That could partly explain why their risk is so much higher.”
Dr. Leenen stressed the importance of understanding why some men skip their screening appointments. It could be fear, lack of knowledge, or issues with access to healthcare. “If we can find out more about why these men choose not to go,” she said, “we can create better screening programs that reach them more effectively.”
This research is part of a larger effort led by the European Association of Urology called PRAISE-U, which aims to build better, more personalized prostate cancer screening systems across Europe.
Dr. Tobias Nordström, a urologist from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, added that these findings show the benefit of screening is even greater than previously thought—if men actually attend. “
The men who take part in screening gain clear benefits in terms of long-term survival,” he said. “But we also see a group of men who are at serious risk because they keep skipping these chances for early detection.”
Review and Analysis
This new sub-analysis adds an important layer to our understanding of prostate cancer screening. It doesn’t just confirm the general benefit of screening—it reveals that missing screenings can be much more dangerous than previously known. The 45% higher risk of death among men who consistently skip appointments is a serious red flag.
What makes this finding especially urgent is the size of this group. One in six men invited to screening never attended a single appointment. This is not a small number—it represents thousands of men who are potentially putting their lives at risk by avoiding checkups.
This study highlights two main issues: the effectiveness of screening when people participate, and the danger of non-attendance. While the screening itself reduces prostate cancer deaths, the real challenge now is reaching those who avoid it altogether. These men might not trust the system, or they might be unaware of how serious prostate cancer can be if left untreated.
Going forward, health systems will need to do more than just offer screening—they’ll need to educate, support, and engage men who are least likely to show up. Without addressing the reasons for non-attendance, even the best screening programs will fall short.
If you care about prostate cancer, please read studies about a natural ally against prostate cancer, and supplements and keto diet can boost immunotherapy for prostate cancer.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how to harness the power of anti-cancer foods and supplements, and low-fat diet may help stop cancer growth.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
