Prostate Cancer Screening: Why It’s Not for Every Man:  Screening for prostate cancer in men age 50 and older is common in clinical practice today, but it’s not based on adequate evidence that it improves health outcomes. That’s why the US Preventive Services Task Force, the leading independent panel of experts in prevention, has found insufficient evidence to recommend for or against routine screening for prostate cancer.

The benefits of screening for early prostate cancer are unknown. There are substantial harms associated with detection and treatment of prostate cancer, and the research fails to show a reduction in prostate cancer death and a net improvement in a patient’s well-being.[1]

Patients deserve to know when there’s insufficient evidence that a preventive screening will do more good than harm. Do not screen for prostate cancer without first discussing with patients the potential — but uncertain — benefits and possible harms. We need to inform patients about the gaps in the evidence. Then we need to help them assess their personal risks and other individual considerations and preferences that might influence their decisions.[2]

Be prepared to answer questions. Patients are likely to want to know what the potential harms of screening, detection, and treatment of prostate cancer might be. These potential harms include fairly frequent false-positive results from PSA screening tests that might lead to unnecessary anxiety and unnecessary biopsies. All treatments for prostate cancer carry risks of harm.[3]

Remember this is your patient’s decision, too. And helping patients make decisions that are appropriate for them as individuals is one way to provide high-quality care, in the absence of definitive evidence.[4]

That is my opinion. I’m Dr. Michael LeFevre of the US Preventive Services Task Force. From the Medscape Journal of Medicine