To screen or not to screen, that has been the question for several years now, as some prostate cancer experts (including the inventor the PSA test) warn that PSA testing has led to “a profit-driven public health disaster” that renders tens of thousands of men impotent for no good reason each year, and testing advocates argue that while prostate cancer may be overdiagnosed, there is great potential benefit to screening. Now comes a study from the University of Gothenburg, suggesting that screening men between
the ages of 50 and 65 can cut death
rates from prostate cancer by as much as half. Reuters reports that the study involved 20,000 men who were divided equally
into a group that was offered PSA screening and a group that was
not. Over 14 years of
follow-up, prostate cancer death rates were cut almost by half in the
screening group compared with the non-screening group, as men were
diagnosed and treated in time to stop the cancer from killing them.
Health, fitness and lifestyle tips for people over 50 who still like to play hard
Saturday, May 31, 2025
While I was on Blue Cross my Doctor ordered frequent Blood Tests(3-6 mths)to screen for diseases. This went on for years and years. He was looking for lipids,Prostate,thyroid and other potential problems.
When I reached 65 and on Medicare this completely stopped. I was then told to just call them when needed. Apparently they don’t make any money with Medicare for blood tests and my potential problems werent important anymore. Has anyone else experienced this lack of concern from doctors who treat Medicare Patients or is it just my doctor?
I’m 73 and have been tested for years. Recently PSA started to climb above 8. Had a biopsy and was diagnosed with T1 Gleason 6 prostate cancer. That’s the earliest stage. I’m now considering types of treatment. Suggest you see another doctor!
I’m 84,PSA 6.5 in July 2009 and biopsy diagnosed early stage cancer.PSA checked every three months since and was 7.9 in Jan 2010,then in May was 7.4.My doctor advised treatments should begin if PSA goes up to 10.I will get a second openion if this happens.Has anyone experienced a decrease in PSA as I have?
Mine got up to 18 on the PSA. They gave me TRELSTAR shots. My PSA is down to .05. The big problem is I get hot flashes all the time. They happen during the night when I’m sleeping and wake me up and also during the day. I have had as many as 12 times in a 24 hour period. The hot spell lasts for about 15 minutes average. Forget about the word sex if you get the shots. My gleason number by the way was 7. I’m 84 and still manage to work. I was getting the shots every 78 days. Now I’ve been on them for a year, they now have stretched them out to every six months.
Getting tested is a no-brainer.
It’s “halve,” not “half.”
It’s not necessarily your Doctor but I’m on medicare and my Dcotor has been doing the type blood work you described every 3-4 months for 4 years- of course i had a mini- stoke to trigger the tests. I don’t know if he would have done that without the mini-stroke and then he found out my son is a Doctor so i think he overdoes it a littler.
I was on a similar med for 13 months and went through the hot flashes- when it was over i found out there is a med that supposedly cuts down on the hot flash symptoms- can’t remember the name as i never used it- your Doctor should know what it is.