Founder of the renowned Prostate Seed Institute discusses the importance of early screening.
Irving, TX – Recent changes in prostate cancer screening recommendations have some men and their doctors a bit confused about what tests to perform and if screening is really needed at all. With an estimated 200,000 new cases of the disease diagnosed each year in the United States, some in the medical profession fear a lack of clear guidance may lead to some cases going undetected until they’ve reached more advanced stages.
The United States Preventative Services Task Force back in 2012 changes its recommendations in regard to the prostate-specific antigen test. Although very useful in helping find prostate cancer in its earliest stages, this test has the potential to present with false positives. Because of the false positives and the potential for unnecessary, invasive follow-up tests that might result from them, the PSA was taken off the table as a routine screening measure by the task force. Other medical organizations, however, still recommend the test because of the value it offers in finding cancer in early, more treatable stages.
“All of that adds up to create a very confusing situation for doctors and their patients,” says Dr. Gregory Echt, founder and lead surgeon at the Prostate Seed Institute. “Men are not sure what tests they should report for and doctors are not necessarily entirely clear on what to order because of conflicting recommendations. As the confusion continues, some men are not undergoing screening at all. This is especially alarming because the frequency of prostate cancer hasn’t gone down necessarily, but its detection rates might due to a lack of screening.”
The PSA is still used to monitor active prostate cases and to screen those who are deemed at high risk for the disease. The test, although known to present false positives, is still considered by many one of the best ways to catch the disease early.
“The bottom line is that men absolutely should discuss their prostate cancer risks with their healthcare providers,” says Dr. Echt. “The risk for this disease does go up as men age. When it is caught early, it is highly treatable in many cases.”
About The Prostate Seed Institute
The Prostate Seed Institute is one of the country’s leading pioneers in prostate cancer treatment including prostate seed implementation, a fast and painless procedure that effectively treats prostate cancer in its earliest stages. With a team of oncology experts and a state-of-the-art facility, the Prostate Seed Institute provides prostate cancer patients with the most comprehensive treatment available. To see the Procedure Comparison Chart and learn more about the Prostate Seed InstituteCLICK HERE.
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