Prostate Cancer Detection Down as Screening Numbers Fall

Posted by Prostate Seed Institute on December 15th, 2015

While dramatic drops in reported new cases of cancer would normally be news worth celebrating, researchers delving into prostate cancer statistics aren’t so sure. The findings of two new studies show that the number of early cases of prostate cancer reported are falling, but so too is the use of early screening tools for the disease.

The findings of the two new studies were published recently in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The number of cases of prostate cancer, researchers assert, hasn’t technically dropped. Rather, the number of men diagnosed with the disease in its earliest stages has declined. This is because of declines in screening that have arisen since the United States Preventative Services Task Force made a recommendation against using the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test for routine screening. That agency made its 2012 recommendation because of the fact that prostate cancer is known to grow closing and doesn’t always require surgery or radiation. False positives on this particular test may also give rise to unnecessary, invasive follow-up exams.

While valid reasoning went into the recommendation, opponents of the measure fear that drops in early diagnosis may lead to a rise in prostate cancer-related deaths down the road. One of the new studies, produced by the American Cancer Society, showed that the early stage diagnosis of prostate cancer per 100,000 men age 50 and older dropped to 416.2 in 2012 from 540.8 cases in 2008. The other study showed a similar decline.

Men are urged to discuss prostate cancer and their risks with their healthcare providers. Early screening should begin around the age of 40 for men who are considered at high risk. Routine screening for all other men should typically begin around the age of 50. While the PSA is no longer routinely recommended, men can request this simple blood test and many doctors still value the insights it can offer.

About Author

Dr. Echt and his team at the Prostate Seed Institute offer the most highly sophisticated methods of radiation therapy available in the United States, equal to that found in major medical center and academic settings. These include prostate seed implantation, high dose radiation implants, and external beam radiation with image-guided and intensity-modulated (IGRT and IMRT) capabilities.