New York, NY, July 26, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- New research suggests the majority of men do not discuss prostate cancer screening with their doctors, in particular, the facts surrounding whether or not to test. The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test takes a lot of heat from experts and medical panels nationwide. Some believe the screener is an effective early indicator of prostate cancer , while others criticize its role in unnecessary prostate cancer treatment . The latest recommendation is shared decision-making between doctor and patient.
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However, in a 2010 national health survey, 64 percent of men never discussed the pros and cons of the PSA test with their doctor, and a whopping 88 percent claimed they were not given a choice about whether or not to screen for prostate cancer. Robotic prostate surgeon , Dr. David Samadi, Chairman of Urology, Chief of Robotic Surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital and Professor of Urology at Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine, has long supported a patient-tailored approach to the PSA test.
Dr. Samadi, like many other prostate cancer experts, is largely in favor of PSA testing for its ability to flag a deadly disease that often lurks in the shadows. In contrast, The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) made headlines for speaking out against prostate cancer screening, while other groups take a more conservative stance. The American Urological Association and American College of Physicians encourage shared decision-making between doctor and patient.
Dr. Samadi's approach to personalized medicine makes definitive rulings on prostate cancer screening seem futile.
"There's no sense in being for or against the PSA test; it's not a black and white issue," asserts Dr. Samadi. "The AUA is right in that disease screening, including prostate cancer screening, should be a shared decision between provider and patient, based on risk factors and patient education."
Among the respondents cited above, 44 percent had not undergone prostate cancer screening in the past five years. Results were published this February in the Annals of Family Medicine, http://www.annfammed.org/content/11/4/306 . While the study doesn't provide a full PSA history on the participants, their age range (50 to 70) suggests prime testing opportunity, according to Dr. Samadi.
"If men get a baseline test in their late 40s or early 50s, follow-up testing becomes much more meaningful," he explains. "If you choose to test, make a long-term commitment to screening. No single test gives all the answers, so find a prostate cancer expert who offers knowledgeable input and lifelong monitoring."
A Swedish study published in The BMJ in April concluded that baseline PSA testing before age 50 could accurately predict a man's long-term risk of prostate cancer metastasis in 44 percent of cases, http://www.bmj.com/content/346/bmj.f2023 .
Men with a family history of prostate cancer are most at risk for developing the disease; risk factors like age, weight, lifestyle, and race should also contribute to a man's decision about whether or not to screen for the disease.
State-of-the-art prostate cancer screening, counseling, and treatment are available through Dr. David Samadi and his colleagues at The Prostate Cancer Center at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan at 485 Madison Avenue, between 51st-52nd Streets. 212-365-5000 www.roboticoncology.com
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David B. Samadi, MD Chairman of Urology, Chief of Robotic Surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital Professor of Urology at Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine 485 Madison Avenue New York, NY 10022 Phone: (212)365-5000 http://www.roboticoncology.com/contact/
