Prostate screening saves no lives and may do more harm than good

[Swordsmyth]

Screening for prostate cancer does not save lives, and may do more harm than good, a major study has concluded.
The largest ever trial of PSA (prostate specific antigen) tests - which all men over 50 can obtain on request from their GP - found that death rates were identical among men, whether or not they underwent screening.
Inviting symptomless men for the one-off blood test detects some tumours unlikely to be harmful - while still missing others that were fatal, researchers warned.
The study, funded by Cancer Research UK, follows a long debate about whether the NHS should introduce routine screening, using the tests.
Lead author Professor Richard Martin, a Cancer Research UK scientist at the University of Bristol, said: "Our large study has shed light on a highly debated issue.
prostate cancer cases
"We found offering a single PSA test to men with no symptoms of prostate cancer does not save lives after an average follow up of 10 years.
"The results highlight the multitude of issues the PSA test raises - causing unnecessary anxiety and treatment by diagnosing prostate cancer in men who would never have been affected by it and failing to detect dangerous prostate cancers."
Prostate cancer is different to other forms of the disease in that while some are aggressive, most do not cause any symptoms. Men can survive without treatment.
But it is not possible to distinguish between the two types using the current blood test for prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a protein produced by the gland where higher levels make cancer more likely.

More at: https://www.yahoo.com/news/prostate-...165020605.html

[timosman]

It feels good though.

[donnay]

Yes, just another way to get money. SMH Just like the unnecessary mammograms they pushed on woman.

[Intoxiklown]

Screening for prostate cancer does not save lives, and may do more harm than good, a major study has concluded.
The largest ever trial of PSA (prostate specific antigen) tests - which all men over 50 can obtain on request from their GP - found that death rates were identical among men, whether or not they underwent screening.
Inviting symptomless men for the one-off blood test detects some tumours unlikely to be harmful - while still missing others that were fatal, researchers warned.
The study, funded by Cancer Research UK, follows a long debate about whether the NHS should introduce routine screening, using the tests.
Lead author Professor Richard Martin, a Cancer Research UK scientist at the University of Bristol, said: "Our large study has shed light on a highly debated issue.
prostate cancer cases
"We found offering a single PSA test to men with no symptoms of prostate cancer does not save lives after an average follow up of 10 years.
"The results highlight the multitude of issues the PSA test raises - causing unnecessary anxiety and treatment by diagnosing prostate cancer in men who would never have been affected by it and failing to detect dangerous prostate cancers."
Prostate cancer is different to other forms of the disease in that while some are aggressive, most do not cause any symptoms. Men can survive without treatment.
But it is not possible to distinguish between the two types using the current blood test for prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a protein produced by the gland where higher levels make cancer more likely.

More at: https://www.yahoo.com/news/prostate-...165020605.html

Yeah...prostate cancer is a weird one. It's one of those that pretty much all men develop in later years (around 80% of elderly men who died from other causes are found to have prostate cancer upon autopsy). It's pretty much considered a death sentence when found in younger men, but that's due to it being part of a larger cancer issue within their bodies.

The big problem with prostate screening isn't so much the PSA test but rather biopsy tests due to PSA ranges (certain people simply have natural higher PSA ranges than others, and certain races have even higher PSA ranges.....even though there is no cancer present). Prostate biopsies are done though the colon wall into the prostate and can introduce E. Coli into the urinary tract system......which is never a good thing. It's really not a good thing considering that we're seeing HIGHLY resistant strains of E. Coli now that can eat antibiotics like candy.

[PursuePeace]

Yes, just another way to get money. SMH Just like the unnecessary mammograms they pushed on woman.

Was getting ready to say the same thing.