Panel:PSA screening not needed for most

The federal panel that made the controversial recommendation that most women in their 40's don't need mammograms is now saying most men will not benefit from PSA screening for prostate cancer.

PSA is a substance made in the prostate gland that's usually increased in prostate cancer. It was discovered at Roswell Park, and a PSA blood test is widely used for early detection, but the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is recommending against that for most men.

Dr. James Mohler said, "They've told men who are healthy that they should not ever have a psa unless they have symptoms or signs if you have symptoms or signs of prostate cancer, you have incurable prostate cancer, and regardless of the treatment, providing you're a healthy man, you're going to die of prostate cancer."

Dr. Mohler is chief of urology and associate director of Roswell Park. He points out that the death rate from prostate cancer has declined 40 percent since the test was introduced.

"The problem is, that you can go too far with PSA. If we're getting psas in men who are 80 and diagnosing prostate cancer, you certainly don't need to do that because the chance of dying of prostate cancer is so low that it's just not worth any side effects of treatment," said Dr. Mohler.

But for younger men, particularly those at high risk, such as African Americans or men with a family history of prostate cancer, the test can be life-saving. The recommendations will be subject to a period of public comment before they are finalized, and he's hopeful that they'll be altered.

Dr. Mohler said, "What I like about this is is it has refocused the discussion on PSAs for early detection. Everybody's talking about it again if everybody gets more educated about the pros and cons of receiving a PSA for early detection of prostate cancer, we'll all benefit - physicians and patients alike."