Prostate Cancer Diagnoses Decrease in the U.S.

In May 2012, the United States Preventive Task Force— a panel of medical experts appointed and funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services— recommended against prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing for prostate cancer. Most cases of prostate cancer have a good prognosis, even without treatment. Prior to 2012, widespread PSA screening resulted in overdiagnosis of prostate cancer by 17 to 50 percent. Early treatment often resulted in erectile dysfunction, anxiety about cancer, infection and urinary problems. Even though 12 percent of men will get prostate cancer, most will die from something else. The decrease in prostate cancer diagnoses represents improvements in prostate cancer management in the United States. (Journal American Medical Association, 314: 2054-2061, 2015)