Health
Task force recommends against prostate cancer screening
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Aug. 25, 2008
Men 75 years of age or older should not be screened for prostate cancer, according to a U.S. Preventive Services Task Force statement published in the Aug. 5 Annals of Internal Medicine. This action was taken because evidence was found indicating that PSA testing could detect the disease but not that it improved long-term health.
"We carefully reviewed the available evidence to measure the benefits and harms of screening for prostate cancer and could not find adequate proof that early detection leads to fewer men dying of the disease," said Task Force Chair Ned Calonge, MD, MPH. "At this point, we recommend that men concerned about prostate cancer talk with their health care providers to make a decision based on their individual risk factors and personal preference."
The statement also said there was insufficient evidence to recommend for or against this test in younger men.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/08/25/hlbf0825.htm.
