A Wake-Up Call Regarding Prostate Cancer

A recent report provided a startling wake-up call: more men are currently in danger of dying from preventable prostate cancer.

Over the past few years, conflicting statements regarding the appropriateness of PSA (prostate-specific antigen) tests have been reported, generating confusion among both patients and physicians. As a result, far fewer men are getting screened, resulting in some eye-opening statistics:

• the overall rate of PSA testing has dropped 50%;
• the largest decline is among men aged 50-70, the group most likely to benefit from testing.

The simple truth is, early detection means more options for treatment and an increased chance of survival:

• prior to the development of PSA testing, 20 to 25% of men presented to doctors with cancer already spreading in their bodies; with PSA testing, that has dropped to 4%;
• with PSA screening, U.S. men achieved a 45% reduction in mortality in prostate cancer, versus an increase in mortality worldwide.

At The Urology Group, we made our position clear with a statement you can read here. With Father’s Day as well as Men’s Health Month being recognized in June, we’re taking the opportunity to continue raising awareness of the importance of testing for prostate cancer, the second most common cancer and second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men in the U.S.

We encourage men to see their physicians, discuss their risk factors and when appropriate, get checked for prostate cancer. We hope that families and friends support them in taking that preventive step for early detection.