Prostate Cancer Prediction Tools
These tools are used to assess various types of risk for prostate cancer in a quantitative way. Our knowledge of what the true nature of any particular situation or what may happen in the future is inherently imperfect. Prediction models allow us to use the information available to make educated guesses (predictions) that we hope will provide us insight into the current and future events. This allows us to make better decisions.
These calculators integrate multiple pieces of information. It is recognized in risk assessment that integrated assessment which gives the appropriate weight to each piece of information will result in better predictions.
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre Prostate Cancer Nomograms
*This page contains a series of nomograms which can be used for prediction and to estimate prognosis for various aspects of prostate cancer. Clicking on the links will take you away to other websites. Read the disclaimers carefully before using these tools. There are some general but very important caveats that you should be aware of when you use these tools:
Some imprecision is inherent in the estimates that are generated.
The estimates are only as good as the information input. If the information used is unreliable or poorly reflects the true characteristics of the condition under evaluation, the results will be inaccurate. For example, normal non-cancer related fluctuation in PSA can be as high as 50% from year to year when for PSA's less that 5 mcg/L. In addition, sudden jumps in PSA are not always related to cancer.
In some circumstances, the provided estimate may be highly inaccurate. Even the best of these tools will be inaccurate 1 in 5 times.
On the Web
General Prostate Cancer Web-Resources
Prostate Cancer Canada Resources
Prostate Cancer Basics: Screening and Diagnosis
Prostate Cancer Treatment Options
Prostate Cancer Post-Treatment Recovery and Side Effects
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York is an excellent resource for information on prostate cancer. Balanced, unbiased discussions of the disease, including discussion regarding some of the controversies in prostate cancer.