Prostate cancer in Czech Republic 1959-1992. Descriptive survey

Carcinoma of the prostate is the second most common cancer and fourth most common cause of death from cancer, among men in Czech Republic. Of all tumours, the prevalence of prostate cancer increases the most rapidly with age. A shift in age distribution favouring the older population as a consequence of health promotion and disease prevention programmes, will lead to a permanent increase in the number of patients diagnosed with prostate cancer in Czech males. Its incidence is raising steadily and about 2/3 of all new cases are diagnosed at the time of extra-prostatic or distant disease with poor prognosis for cure. Current evidence especially from the USA strongly suggests that combing the improving prostate-specific antigen test (Hybritech Tandem assay) with the digital rectal examination increases the early detection rate for prostate cancer. Implementation of this scheme to routine diagnostics can offer the best chance of increased survival, decreased morbidity and possible cure of the Czech males.