WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Screening for prostate cancer

Burlington, Vermont - October 13, 2011

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men, and until this week, annual PSA tests were considered the best way to detect it.

But a federal advisory panel now says blanket testing for the prostate-specific antigen-- the PSA-- does more harm than good because of unnecessary treatment and serious complications. But it's also the only screening test for prostate cancer. So what should you do? We asked an expert from Vermont's largest hospital, Fletcher Allen Health Care.

"I think as a urologist, an oncologist and a guy over 50-- I think it is prudent to do a PSA and an exam. The kicker is having it assessed correctly and followed up correctly; same as a lady with a mammogram that's a little funny. Prostate cancer is tricky 'cause there's a second part. The second part is that someone has a sample and they have cancer. The difference, to be honest, one-third of men with prostate cancer have bad prostate cancer. They would benefit from treatment that'll affect their life. Two-thirds need more milder treatment and even just active surveillance that it-- which is a hard concept if you have cancer," said Dr. Scott Perrapato, a urologist/oncologist.

Perrapato says surveillance versus a full blown prostatectomy and other treatment might be prudent because prostate cancer is a slow-growing cancer and people at certain ages may never develop life-threatening disease, but some may-- depending on age and risk factors. So, Perrapato says it's best to consult with your doctor and decide together whether annual PSA screening is the best medicine for you.