Prostate-specific antigen is not an effective screening test for prostate cancer

The information provided in this handout does not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Minnesota Medical School physicians and faculty. These materials are provided for informational purposes only and are in no way intended to take the place of the advice and recommendations of your personal health care provider. You use the information provided in these handouts at your own risk.There is not enough evidence to make definitive recommendations for PSA as a screening tool for men younger than 75 years. In depth discussion regarding patient’s definition of quality of life is necessary to address the potential risks and benefits of screening and potential disease. This includes both psychological effects of false positive test as well as physiological side effects of surgery. It is likely that many more years of data will be necessary to correctly evaluate current effectiveness of monitoring protocols. It is necessary to note that PSA screening alone can have serious psychological effects on patients no matter the result