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It is true that in old men there is a large percentage of slow growing mostly harmless prostate cancers, but you can also get it if you are younger (or it can b
by oleander73 6y ago
It is true that in old men there is a large percentage of slow growing mostly harmless prostate cancers, but you can also get it if you are younger (or it can be aggressive) and then treatment is possible (and required). The advantage of doing a PSA test is however not clear cut, because having a (slightly) elevated PSA can be caused by a benign enlarged prostate or prostatitis. This is why this new test is worthwhile (if it really works).
Source: I'm 47 and have prostate cancer (metastasized, so incurable but there are still a number of treatment options to improve quality and quantity of life).
- singingfish 6y agoThe way PSA is a useful marker is not the absolute value but the rate at which it increases. If the doubling time of your PSA is too high it means you're at risk of prostate cancer and need further investigation. Get it done twice in your 30s and 40s and more regularly when older than that.
- btam 6y agoWhat exactly do you mean by "a large percentage"? Cancer.org[1] says that it's 1 in 8 men during their lifetimes, the parent post says "almost all men get it at some point" -- where is this info coming from? [1]: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer/about/key-statistics.html https://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer/about/key-stat...