Posted on 05/21/2012 4:49:36 PM PDT by tobyhill
A top panel of health experts called the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force says that men should no longer get routine prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests to screen for prostate cancer. The reason, it says, is that the tests may lead to treatments that do more harm than good.
U.S. panel recommends against PSA tests for screening prostate cancer in men of all ages
More than 33,000 American men die of prostate cancer each year. And, every year, 20 million get the PSA test to detect the disease early. The recommendation is already causing a lot of criticism. Dr. Jon LaPook reported on the issue.
For 20 years, the message has been the same: Get a PSA test every year or two, detect prostate cancer early -- and save your life. Dr. Michael Lefevre helped lead the panel that said the message was wrong.
"The problem is that in contrast to the small benefits, a significant number of men will be harmed by the test and treatments that follow prostate cancer screening," he said to CBS News.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...
Go have your colonoscopy. Please.
My sister’s cancer was discovered when she was 53. It was stage 4 and had metastasized already. Trust me, you don’t want to go there.
She should be here with her family and friends who loved her so much.
She would have needed a colonoscopy in her early to mid 40’s.
Go ask Tony Snow.
” The study showed more than 1,000 need to be screened to detect 37 cancers and prevent a single prostate cancer death. “
Sounds like good odds in favor of screening to me.
Welcome to the Doublespeak of Obamacare.
And when the rationing of morphine and warm stone massages hits full tilt, they’ll just hit you over the head with the warm stone, and send your family the bill for the rock.
ROFLMAO! Now that’s a whole different thing, isn’t it?
PSA tests tracked a gradual increase in PSA until my Primary Care physician insisted I see a urologist for a biopsy which detected Stage II A cancer. It was removed via a robotic procedure. That was 7 years ago. Post procedure biopsy revealed a very small amount of aggressive cancer that confirmed that it was a good choice to remove the gland. I am alive today, and living life to the fullest, due to the PSA.
PSA tests tracked a gradual increase in PSA until my Primary Care physician insisted I see a urologist for a biopsy which detected Stage II A cancer. It was removed via a robotic procedure. That was 7 years ago. Post procedure biopsy revealed a very small amount of aggressive cancer that confirmed that it was a good choice to remove the gland. I am alive today, and living life to the fullest, due to the PSA.
As I recollect, PSA is useful for tracking Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia....but that’s about it.
Go ahead and do it. If they find nothing, that’s reassuring. If they find a polyp, better to have it removed now rather than risk it becoming cancerous.
As you indicated, since PSA is nonspecific, BPH or PC or some kinds of infections can all produce PSA increases. You can also have fairly advanced Prostate cancer without a PSA increase.
I get a free test, given to all participants that want it, at the “Cruise for the Cure” car show at the Orange County Fair Grounds, CA every year.
“It tastes like the water from a bait tank on a fishing boat.”
It doesn’t tast near that good!!!!
Nah, suck it up and go do it. Colon cancer spotted early has a really good cure rate.
Just plan to stay home the night before, and line up a good breakfast after the scoping.
My father had prostate cancer and his PSA test was never outside of the normal range. The test may be worthless.
I'm surprised your Doctor didn't have you do one at age 50.
Eat a light diet for a few days before you go in, no Barbecue or Pasta. After you drink the “stuff”, it will make things “move” a little easier. You can catch up on your reading or meditation. As long as you have more than one bathroom in the house, you should be good to go. hahaha
The worst part of the Procedure is getting the IV in your arm. The Happy Juice will take care of the rest. Been there, done that, more than once.
And that’s something that always gets left out of these discussions: just because the insurer doesn’t want to pay for the test doesn’t mean you can’t buy (or find) your own. I found the basic PSA test for $35 online. Free’s even better.
You better have damn good insurance, or be wealthy. Otherwise, they’ll blow you out their office windows with laughter.
The problem is if ya test positive, it will cost you a fortune for treatment, unless ya got gold plated insurance, or ya happen to be a government employee.
“Cruise for the Cure” PSA test is free to all participants.
It’s put on by the society to prevent/cure prostate cancer.
It’s one of the largest car shows of the year with up to 4,000 entries.
It’s not a matter of positive, it’s a higher from year to year that counts.
They not only keep track of you from year to year but forward the test results to your doctor as well as you.
Someone told me that they wern’t going to test anyone over 74 this year.
I’ll find out since i’ll be 75 when I go to the show this year.
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