Private MD News

Experts recommend frequent PSA testing

Category: Prostate

PSA testing is one of the most important things a man can do to reduce his risk of prostate cancer. By getting his levels checked on a regular basis, he can stay on top of his prostate health and be alerted to potentially dangerous changes in his level.

There has been some debate recently over whether or not PSA testing leads to over-diagnosis and treatment of growths that may never be harmful. However, study after study has confirmed that regular testing significantly reduces the risk of prostate cancer.

"Recent reports have debated the usefulness of the PSA test, but men should not write off this exam," John Davis, a urology professor at the University of Texas, told Virtual Medical Center. "It's still an effective way to track trends in your prostate over time. Doing this increases the chances that your doctor will find prostate cancer as early as possible, when it's most successfully treated."

Diagnosing prostate cancer early is key. This significantly improves the survival rate, according to the Mayo Clinic.