PSA testing put back on the table by cancer doctors
Regular prostate testing recommended by cancer doctors despite controversy.
Prostate cancer screening for those with at least 10 years to live should be considered, says the largest society of cancer doctors.
Contradicting a recent warning against regular prostate screening by the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), the American Society of Clinical Oncology said that men should have the option of being tested.
"Screening should be discussed with men who have a longer life expectancy, so that men can make an informed decision," said Dr. Ethan Basch, a prostate cancer expert and co-chair of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) panel, said Reuters.
The USPSTF’s note on prostate cancer screening last May sparked controversy among many specialists.
More from GlobalPost: Peru, Latin America’s hidden growth story
Urologists and cancer experts said the move could condemn many men to death who could otherwise be screened and treated, said ABC News.
USPSTF said that the PSA test is a public health disaster, costing the health care system while having mixed results in terms of cancer survival rates, reported Reuters.
ASCO used the same data as USPSTF and found that in the European study that was conducted, PSA tests actually did cut cancer deaths.
The new advice was published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
The story you just read is accessible and free to all because thousands of listeners and readers contribute to our nonprofit newsroom. We go deep to bring you the human-centered international reporting that you know you can trust. To do this work and to do it well, we rely on the support of our listeners. If you appreciated our coverage this year, if there was a story that made you pause or a song that moved you, would you consider making a gift to sustain our work through 2024 and beyond?