Oct 10 2011
Yesterday, the United States Preventive Services Task Force released a draft recommendation that states healthy men should no longer receive a P.S.A test for prostate cancer as it often leads to unnecessary testing and procedures and does not save lives.
Below is a response to the suggested new guidelines from Christopher Kane, MD, FACS, professor of surgery, chief of the Division of Surgery, and director of the Urology Residency Training Program with UC San Diego School of Medicine:
"I disagree with the conclusion of the U.S. Preventive Medicine Task Force concerning PSA screening. Other major health organizations, including the ACS and AUA also disagree with that conclusion. The largest and best designed of the screening studies quoted in the report did show that the screening appeared to save lives. Although it is true that many men with low risk prostate cancer do not benefit from treatment, I am in favor of screening and detection, however avoiding invasive treatment in men who are unlikely to benefit. At UCSD, we offer many men with low risk prostate cancer active surveillance rather than aggressive treatment. However, that decision is based on careful individualized assessment of risks and benefits. Many men with prostate cancer who were destined to have adverse outcomes are cured with current treatments. Also, current treatments are more refined and have fewer side effects than in prior eras. Finally, new therapies, recently approved for patients with advanced prostate cancer, may be useful in combinations with current treatments for men with newly diagnosed prostate cancer."
A team of UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center experts is available to speak about the new suggested guidelines.
Source: United States Preventive Services Task Force
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