Should I have a Prostate Cancer Screening ?
The majority of men of a certain age have heard of the PSA blood test , with Prostate Cancer Screening. The PSA, or Prostate Specific Antigen, test detects levels of PSA in a patient’s blood. Higher levels increase the chance of prostate cancer but are not always a diagnostic of cancer.
If the PSA Prostate Cancer Screening test indicates a higher chance of prostate cancer, then usually a series of biopsies are taken of the prostate. If cancer is found, then some form of treatment is usually started. The treatments for localized or early prostate cancer , include surgery, radiotherapy (both internal and external), and ultrasound (in some parts of the world).
The critical question in the whole Prostate Cancer screening ,is whether or not the Prostate Cancer screening saves lives. It is known that there are major side effects to treatment including erectile dysfunction, rectal problems,and sometime even death.
Just lately, The US Preventative Services Task Force issued it’s latest recommendations concerning the PSA blood test.
The Task Force recommended that Prostate Cancer screening is not recommended for men over age 75 as there is no proof that treating a prostate cancer at that age will add to life expectancy , and the side effects of treatment are important. The Task Force also said that there is no conclusion about screening in men under 75.
The task force’s recommendations are accessible on various websites and magazines.
The major point of the debate is that the important side effects take place right away whereas the possibility of increased life expectancy mainly prove to be of benefit to patients with long life expectancies. Many types of prostate cancers are extremely slow growing and patients often die of another reason.
While further data is awaited , to judge the benefit of PSA Prostate Cancer screening in men under age 75, it is fair to say that the decision is a personal one that should be discussed with every patient.
There are men over 75 who may be in great shape with longer life expectancies than 10 years who may choose that the PSA prostate cancer Screening test is potentially of benefit to them. As opposed to the recommendations of the Task Force, The American Cancer Society Guidelines say Prostate Cancer screening need be offered to men over 50 with a life expectancy of at least 10 years with a full explanation of the pros and cons.
So, ultimately you should discuss PSA prostate cancer screening with your doctor and see whether it makes sense for you.
