Deep dive #4 · 3 November 2026

Prostate cancer

For health professionals Movember

One Australian man in five by age 85, and at autopsy over half of men past 79. A cancer that kills about 420,000 men a year and also, in a large share of cases, would never have been noticed. Grow a moustache by all means; the PSA argument needs better evidence. The numbers, the new Australian guideline and the frontier.

At a glance

Biggest take-home: the question is no longer only "PSA or not". It is who to test, how to avoid the biopsy, and who not to treat.

Definition

History

Pathophysiology

Epidemiology

Global

Australia

Causes and risk factors

Preventable factors

Diagnosis essentials

PSA in general practice (Australia 2026)

After a raised PSA

Current treatment

Localised

Biochemical recurrence

Metastatic, hormone sensitive

Castration resistant

Emerging treatments and trials

Theoretical frontiers

Hypotheses, not recommendations.

Causes: theories

Prevention: theoretical options

Treatment: theoretical options

Gaps and open questions

Labelled hypotheses, not recommendations.

Prognosis and quality of life

Weird trivia

Guidelines

Key trials

Sources

Information only. Screening, thresholds and drug access differ between countries and change quickly. Check product information, PBS and MBS status, and specialist advice before acting.

Reviewed 3 November 2026. General education for health professionals; not a substitute for local protocols.