Prostate cancer is the second most prevalent men’s cancer behind skin cancer in the U.S. But because the cancer exhibits few early symptoms, it is typically diagnosed in later stages when prognosis can be poor.
Read how you can live better and longer with advanced prostate cancer. Click here.
Being aware of early symptoms and getting your PSA levels checked regularly are two ways that you can catch the disease earlier and begin treatments.
In this Novant Health video, we meet David Steele. He has a family history of prostate cancer so he routinely has his PSA levels checked. During his late 40s, Steele was lucky to catch his cancer early and is now cancer-free. Urologist Dr. Dan Watson explains how often men should get their PSA levels checked.
Could fewer PSA screenings lead to more prostate cancer deaths? Read more here.
Prostate Cancer News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
“Early Detection of Prostate Cancer Saves Lives”
There is no proof of this claim.
No one has ever shown that PSA screening leads to an overall saving of lives compared with usual care.
Hi Chris… thank you for the comment. Does early screening save lives? Yes and no. While there is no 100% guarantee that you can save your life with an early screening and diagnosis, you can get into treatment much sooner which MAY save your life.
Getting treatment much sooner has greatly increased the number of men who get treated which greatly increases the risk of treatment leading to death by other causes, such as cardio-vascular disease. http://www.bmj.com/content/352/bmj.h6080 So early treatment may kill you as well as save you.
Also, even the evidence that earlier treatment may save your life from prostate cancer is very inconsistent and geographically isolated, unlike the consistent evidence that there is no improvement in overall survival compared with usual care. Overall survival is the ultimate test for whether early (which unavoidably means over) treatment saves more lives than takes them.
Hey Chris, I get what you’re saying. There is no argument from me on this. The only thing I would say is that early detection CAN save lives. That doesn’t guarantee anything. As with any diagnosis, it is always best to get a second opinion and do your own research.