There appears to be a lot of controversy surrounding the issue of PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) testing and screening for men.  Some experts think that it is a beneficial. Others claim that it is causing the treatment of too many men, some of which would not really benefit from it.  This issue is very emotionally charged because of the side-effects that can be very detrimental to a man’s self-esteem and sex life.

Everyone recognizes that an earlier diagnosis of a malignant, aggressive cancer is good.  The problem is that many prostate cancers are slow-growing or are not life-threatening.  It is reported that as men age, many of them show evidence of growths in the prostate gland.  The problem is that it is difficult to determine whether or not a growth is an aggressively cancerous growth, or one that is relatively harmless.  The PSA screening can not tell the difference between these two growths. Also, the PSA test can not predict whether or not treatment would be worthwhile.

Although it may save some men, a lot of men are subjected to unnecessary cancer treatments that leave around 80% of them impotent (i.e., suffering from Erectile Dysfunction) and/or incontinent.  This seems to be a huge price to pay for a test with a lot of uncertainty in the meaning of the test result.

It doesn’t appear that clinicians are able to improve on the PSA test at present.  A big problem is that many people will accept the prostate cancer treatments, regardless of whether the probability of having aggressive cancer is high or low.  Let’s face it–a diagnosis of a cancerous growth is an extremely stressful event in one’s life.  Many people will just go along with the physician’s recommendations.  The articles referenced demonstrate that it is almost certain that a large number of men underwent prostate cancer treatments that were probably unnecessary.

My recommendation is that men should learn as much as they possibly can about cancer, prostate cancer, prostate health, general health, and related topics.  The informed patient is a much better patient.  The more you understand about cancer and health, the higher the chance that you will regain your good health.