TUESDAY, April 11, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is recommending that men aged 55 to 69 have a discussion with their doctor about the pros and cons of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening for detecting prostate cancer.
The recommendation applies to men who have not been diagnosed with prostate cancer and have no signs or symptoms of the disease. In addition, the recommendation is for men at average risk and those at increased risk for prostate cancer, such as black men and men with a family history of prostate cancer. Men at increased risk for prostate cancer should take that into consideration when making the decision to be screened for PSA levels. For men aged 70 and older, the recommendation for no PSA screening remains in place.
"There is probably a small benefit overall to screening," Task Force chair Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, M.D., Ph.D., a chair in medicine and a professor of medicine, epidemiology, and biostatistics at the University of California, San Francisco, told HealthDay. "But the right decision is not a one-size-fits-all decision. The right decision isn't screening all men, it's making all men aware of the benefits and harms, and then allowing each man to make the best decision for himself."
The draft recommendation was published on the Task Force's website on April 11, and it is open to public comment until May 8. After the comment period ends, the Task Force will consider the input and come up with its final recommendation in the following months.
Evidence Review
Draft Recommendation Statement
Comment on Recommendation
