Screening for prostate cancer does not save lives - largest ever trial

[Amity Island]

Screening for prostate cancer does not save lives, and may do more harm than good, a major study has concluded.

The largest ever trial of PSA (prostate specific antigen) tests - which all men over 50 can obtain on request from their GP - found that death rates were identical among men, whether or not they underwent screening.

Inviting symptomless men for the one-off blood test detects some tumours unlikely to be harmful - while still missing others that were fatal, researchers warned.

"We do not recommend that the PSA test should be routinely offered to men without symptoms. However, if a man is particularly worried about his risk of prostate cancer, he should have a full discussion about his risk with his GP."

Prostate screening saves no lives and may do more harm than good

Screening for prostate cancer does not save lives, and may do more harm than good, a major study has concluded.

www.telegraph.co.uk

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Really interesting findings! And the opposite of what one might have expected.

Does the article suggest whether the bulk of evidence points in the same direction?

 

[trophywench]

I've no idea whether it does or not, only when you're informed that your cancer is very aggressive and so your life expectancy if you do nowt could be 15 years (but how long of that you might be well they don't have a clue) - you're better advised to do summat about it, to my mind.

Since I don't know for a fact whether my husband's would have killed him sooner or later, No I can't be certain having the treatment saved his life!