An article in the New York Times states that a study of 77,000 American men found that those who received annual PSA blood tests for prostate cancer did not have a reduced rate of death. Combined with a European study, the PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test is now being questioned as an effective test for men. Many cases of prostate cancer grow slowly. So slowly in fact as to never be a health issue. The PSA test does what it is supposed to do, but it causes these slow growing cancers to be found early, leading to biopsies and treatment that have major side effects. More studies need to be undertaken but these new studies help inform men that dealing with PSA testing is not as straightforward as once thought.
