Prostate Cancer Screening Down in U.S. Men
Two studies published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that fewer men are being screened for prostate cancer, and fewer cases are being diagnosed nationwide. Whether this is good or bad news is unclear - researchers stated that a reduction in excessive screening might be good, but it could also result in potentially deadly cases escaping detection. For decades, the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test was recommended to test men age 50 and older for prostate cancer. However, in 2012 the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force issued a statement against PSA screening, citing evidence that screening might needlessly subject men with slow-growing tumors to surgery and other intensive treatments.
