Despite the widespread use of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test for prostate cancer, it’s been known for many years that it had murky benefits, especially in the face of its well-demonstrated risks – like impotence, incontinence, and unnecessary surgery.
Now, as reported in a very good article in the New York Times, the US Preventive Services Task Force appears set to recommend against widespread screening for prostate cancer in men age 50 and older, with the primary justification being that testing simply doesn’t save lives – a key criteria for any cancer screening test.
For more on the PSA testing issue, see our 8 Ways video below. For more on the cancer screening issue in general, see our page: Quick Principles of Screening.