Panel Advises Against Prostate Exam

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has recommended against using a common blood test, called the prostate-specific-antigen, or PSA, to screen for prostate cancer. The panel recommended the change, giving the test a “D” grade, saying it “has no net benefit” and “the harms outweigh the benefits.” The test can detect slow-growing cases of cancer that won't cause problems during a patient's lifetime, but also exposes those tested to harm. Before this latest announcement, the PSA, which has been used for the last two decades, was not recommended for patients age 75 or older. Now, the panel says it doesn't recommend the test for anyone unless the doctor explains how sensitive the screening is.