Ready for the American Cancer Society’s long awaited revised guidelines on prostate cancer screening? Don’t bother Googling them; they’re the same as the old guidelines, with one exception: doctors are advised to tell patients something that doctors have known for years: while screening “may be associated with a reduction in the risk of
dying from prostate cancer … evidence is conflicting and experts
disagree about the value of screening,” and that the risks of finding and treating screening-detected cancers that never would have been a threat to life or health should be weighed against the potential for side effects like impotence and incontinence. For men at average risk of the disease, the
PSA-or-not-to-PSA discussion, for what it’s worth. should still begin at age 50.Read more in US News & World Report.
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I guess the real message here is “If you are afraid to make a rational decision, avoid the test–and die, maybe.” Absolutely absurd!!
I was diagnosed with prostate cancer 5 years ago. My PSA was 2.9 but my urologist did not like the way my prostate felt with a digital exam and he recommended a biopsy. The biopsy was cancerous. I was 70 years old at the time. After treatment, I am cancer free but have side effects.
If, today, Mr. Shaw had the same diagnosis he should be counseled on the likelihood of his type of cancer spreading. The biopsy will identify the type. Most are very slow growing and he likely would reach the end of his life live WITH the cancer but not because OF the cancer. His quality of life would not be diminished nor his allotted days.