Does PSA screening save lives?
Prostate cancerUncontrolled growth of the cells of the prostate. affects one in six American men and is the 2nd leading cause of male cancer deaths (nearly 30,000 per year) in the U.S. Yet a debate exists as to whether PSA screening and early treatment reduces men’s risk of death from prostateA donut-shaped gland the size and shape of a walnut that surrounds the upper portion of the male urethra. Its main function is to produce part of the fluid that makes up semen. cancer.
However, the best evidence supports screening. The world’s largest, longest and most sophisticated screening program (studying 100,000 men adopting best screening & treatment practices in the Tyrol region of Austria over 15 years) actually led to a 50% reduction in the death rate from prostate cancer.
The evidence is compelling that early treatment when cancer is small (and triggers lower PSA scores) is more effective than late treatment when cancer is large (eventually leading to higher PSA scores) Earlier treatment leads to lower recurrenceThe return of a medical condition. and lower risk of death. Early detection from PSA screening can lead to early treatment and reduce the subsequent risk of death from prostate cancer.
The key is to find a way to detect progressing prostate cancer early, while avoiding the risk of unwarranted invasive tests and treatments. Soar Dynamic Screening helps by helping your doctor go through a medical detective process (differential diagnosis) to rule out other possible causes of elevated PSA before resorting to a biopsyA test done to determine the presence of cancer by removing small samples of tissue from an individual’s organ to examine them under a microscope..