“It Is Inappropriate and Irresponsible to Issue a blanket statement against PSA testing”…

Recently, the US Preventive Services Task Force released a final recommendation against routine prostate-specific antigen testing for healthy men regardless of age. This recommendation was published on May 22, 2012 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Despite the task force’s recommendation, several urologists are dissatisfied with this statement and urge that men who are in good health and have a 10-15 year life expectancy should have a choice whether or not they want to be screened.

According to CDC (the Centers for Disease Control), medical experts are still researching whether a man who gets screened regularly is less likely to die from prostate cancer. The research is being conducted through clinical trials. The research is also trying to determine if there is a genetic pre-disposure to developing prostate cancer.

What are some of the facts to know as you are making your decision whether or not to get PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) screening?

The risk of developing prostate cancer increases with age. Prostate screening is done using two tests…the PSA and the DRE (Digital Rectal Exam). Most providers begin offering screening for their patients at age 40, especially when a father, brother or son in the family has already been diagnosed.  Others begin screening annually at age 50.  Although prostate cancer can develop in all men, it most often develops in African American men. The average African American man has a 1 in 5 chance of being diagnosed with prostate cancer. Some of the symptoms of prostate cancer are blood in the urine, blood in semen, urinating frequently through the night, weak or interrupted urine flow, pain or burning sensation while urinating, the inability to urinate and constant pain in the pelvis, lower back or upper thighs and swelling in the legs. If you have any of these symptoms, make an appointment to see your medical provider as soon as possible. This is your health and only you can decide how important regular annual prostate screening is to you. The ball is in your court….

 Jenise Ervin RN, MSN

Director of Public Health

Park Forest Health Department