The U.S. Preventive Task Force recommends against PSA-based screening for prostate cancer. Grade: D

From a listing on the U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services website, or more specifically: http://www.healthcare.gov/law/resources/regulations/prevention/taskforce.html From the US Preventive Services Task Force: The Task Force reviewed research studies on the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening test for prostate cancer. It concluded that the expected harms of PSA screening are greater than the potential benefit. The fact sheet explains the Task Force recommendation and what it might mean for you: http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/prostatecancerscreening/prostatecancerfact.pdf In conclusion, the science shows that more men will be harmed by PSA screening than will benefit. The expected harms are greater than the small potential benefit. The USPSTF is an independent panel of non-Federal experts in prevention and evidence-based medicine and is composed of primary care providers (such as internists, pediatricians, family physicians, gynecologists/obstetricians, nurses, and health behavior specialists). To see who are members of the Task Force: http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/members.htm *Editor's comment: I do find it interesting that this Task Force still advises women over 40 to get mammograms: (scroll down when you get to the following link) http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/uspsabrecs.htm "The USPSTF recommends screening mammography for women, with or without clinical breast examination, every 1-2 years for women aged 40 and older. September 2002." However as you can see this recommendation was made back in 2002. Dr. John McDougall recently has recommended that women should not get mammograms: http://greg-foodforthought.blogspot.com/2012/08/women-do-not-get-mammogram.html

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