Real Benefits from an Annual PSA

Boston researchers have reported that among 1500 men dying from prostate cancer, those who hadn’t had annual PSA screening were three times as likely to die within 10 years than those who had regular PSA tests.

The PSA-screened men fared better in most respects: their average PSA levels at the time of diagnosis were lower, they had less aggressive cancers, and their PSA levels doubled in the first 3 months after surgery in only 4.5% of them, compared with 12% of those who hadn’t been screened before diagnosis. This translated into 11.3% of deaths within 10 years for the non-screened men, versus 3.6% in the men who had annual PSA tests.

This study strongly suggests that annual PSA testing is well worth while, whatever other people may tell you. Regard it as a birthday present to yourself.