May 31, 2018 – PSA Screening

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Anchor lead: New guidelines for prostate cancer screening have been released, Elizabeth Tracey reports

If you’re a man, should you undergo prostate specific antigen or PSA screening for prostate cancer? The United States Preventive Services Task Force, known by the acronym USPSTF, has just released its new guidelines. William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, describes the recommendations.

Nelson: They believe that there is a possible net benefit for men aged 55 to 69 years, although they believe the trade-off is very significant and sort of mandates an individualized discussion. So they give that a grade C. for screening men above the age of 70 they believe that the risk of side effects and complications outweigh the potential benefits and they give that a grade D. I think that people considering any healthcare maneuver should have a conversation with their physician and I believe this is no exception.  :31

Nelson notes that men with a family history and African American men may be at higher risk, according to the guidelines. At Johns Hopkins, I’m Elizabeth Tracey.