Category: PSA Screening

Are you confused about whether annual PSA screening is right for you? One can hardly be blamed, as guidelines have been zigzagging since 2012. Currently, shared decision-making between men and their medical caregivers is a compromise recommendation. Still, ongoing debate shows up in published literature backed up by data. Those in favor of annual testing keep reading

“Out of all the stars labeled Box Office Poison by the Independent Theater Owners Association in 1938, Katharine Hepburn is one who maintains a high degree of name recognition today…” This is the opening sentence of a January 2023 article in Hollywood Revue, explaining how the Great Kate was dealt a blow to her reputation—a keep reading

A recent Renal&Urology news story heralds, “The risk of dying from prostate cancer is low among older men receiving routine screening, investigators report.”[i](In this case, older refers to men ages 70-74.) At first glance, that sounds like encouragement to continue annual PSA screening as you age—an idea that conflicts with the 2018 U.S. Preventive Services keep reading

Does PSA screening reduce PCa mortality, or doesn’t it? We know that PSA is not specific for cancer, since many prostate conditions can cause a rise in PSA blood levels. We also know that an elevated PSA can lead to a conventional TRUS-guided biopsy, and that such biopsies can either miss PCa (30% rate of false negatives), or overdetect insignificant PCa... keep reading

If you were a kid in the 1960s, you may recall listening to the exciting audio countdown for NASA’s first rocket launches: “Liftoff at T minus 10 seconds. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, zero…and we have liftoff!” Since then, zero has been dropped from the countdown. In fact, it has keep reading

Many symptoms, diseases or injuries are so clear-cut that diagnosing them is a no brainer. The body’s problem gives clear information and no guesswork is involved. Whether it’s a painful shingles rash, a rapidly swelling sprained ankle, or sudden crushing chest pain, a visit to your doctor or Emergency Department results in a rapid assessment, keep reading

The Beatles. Herman’s Hermits. The Who. Gerry and the Pacemakers. The Rolling Stones. These bands and other vocal artists from the United Kingdom brought a fresh new sound to U.S. dominated rock and roll that significantly influenced the sound of popular music. More notably and unforgettably (some might say unforgivingly), they contributed to the wave keep reading

The debate over the merits of prostate cancer screening by using the prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test is not likely to go away any time soon. However, the majority of men between ages 50-70 will continue to have blood tests to screen for prostate cancer (PCa). According to experts, more than two-thirds of men with an elevated PSA will not be diagnosed with PCa... keep reading

A 58-year old guy walks into his doctor’s office for his annual wellness check. At some point, the doc says, “Let’s talk about a PSA blood test.” Many men may wonder what’s there to talk about? Well, the latest guidelines recommend that men ages 55-69 make individualized decisions by discussing the possible harms and benefits keep reading

Benjamin Franklin is quoted as saying nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes. Perhaps he didn’t include aging because a) at the time of his death in 1790 the average male life expectancy was 38, or b) he led a rich and vigorous life almost till his death at age 84 keep reading