Screening can detect prostate cancer at earlier, asymptomatic stages, when treatment may be more effective. The goal of early detection is to reduce death from prostate cancer in men. The bottom line is that prostate cancer is more treatable, and hence more curable, when caught early.

Men who wish to be screened for prostate cancer should have both a PSA test and a digital rectal exam. Combining both tests improves the overall rate of prostate cancer detection.

The American Cancer Society and the American Urological Association recommend offering Prostate Specific Antigen (“PSA”) measurement and a digital rectal examination to men annually beginning at age 50 years. Most major medical organizations agree that the most appropriate candidates for screening include men age 50 years or older who have a life expectancy of at least ten years. These include the American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Physicians, American College of Preventive Medicine and the American Medical Association.

Prior to the emergence of PSA testing in 1987, only 68% of newly diagnosed men had cancer localized to the prostate and 21% had metastatic disease, according to the American Urological Association. Today, more than 90% of these men have cancer confined to the prostate and only 4% have cancer that has spread to other areas of the body. Although one in six men will receive the diagnosis of prostate cancer in their lifetime, the lifetime risk of prostate cancer death is only about 3%, according to the American Urological Association.

According to the American Urological Association: “U.S. deaths from prostate cancer have decreased by 40% over the past decade-a greater decline than any other cancer.” There has been a gradual but steady decline in prostate cancer mortality in the United States of approximately 30%. This trend began fairly soon after the introduction of PSA in 1987.

The evidence from the American Urological Association is clear: “Screening decreases the risk of being diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer.” Screening with PSA and a digital rectal examination has been responsible for a substantial shift towards detection of prostate cancer at earlier stages and thus resulted in a significant downward trend in prostate cancer death.

What you can do if you want more information about screening for prostate cancer

If you want more information about screening for prostate cancer, I welcome your phone call on my toll-free cell at 1-866-889-6882. You are always welcome to request a FREE copy of my book, The Seven Deadly Mistakes of Malpractice Victims, by sending an e-mail to me at jfisher@fishermalpracticelaw.com .