Urologists say don’t give up on prostate cancer screening just yet

May 13 2009

What's a guy to do? While prostate specific antigen (PSA) testing has been the standard screening tool for prostate cancer for several decades, results of a study recently published in The New England Journal of Medicine question the effectiveness of PSA screening in reducing death from prostate cancer. But many urologists argue that men should not be swayed from getting the test-it still saves lives.

Matthew Shuford, M.D., urologist on the medical staff at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas, sees no reason to give up the PSA screening in light of the recent findings.

"Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men and the second leading cause of cancer death in men," says Dr. Shuford. "Keep in mind that it is only curable when caught early; it can only be caught early by screening; and the screening is a simple blood test that is cheap and easy."

Approximately 90 percent of all prostate cancers are currently diagnosed at an early stage, according to the National Cancer Institute.

"Early diagnosis greatly increases a man's chances of successful treatment," adds Dr. Shuford.

Prostate cancer screening includes a digital rectal exam (DRE) and a simple PSA blood test. The American Cancer Society recommends men talk with their physician about a regular screening plan.

While some men might complain that the DRE screening is too uncomfortable and some researchers might suggest that the PSA test is not necessary, Dr. Shuford is quick to compare the screening to other cancer screening tests.

"Colon cancer screening, for example, is a more expensive and a more invasive procedure than prostate cancer screening, involving the increased complications of anesthesia with the added discomfort of a bowel prep," he said. "This is accepted despite the fact that the vast majority of people will have no abnormality found and even fewer will have colon cancer."

"What if a blood test existed for colon cancer," asks Dr. Shuford. "I can't think of anyone who would say no to a blood test that may let them avoid a colonoscopy," he said. "This is what the PSA test does for prostate cancer."