Researchers find prostate cancer overdiagnosis risk rises sharply after age 70 with PSA screening
Updated
Updated · The Conversation · Apr 28
Researchers find prostate cancer overdiagnosis risk rises sharply after age 70 with PSA screening
12 articles · Updated · The Conversation · Apr 28
A UK study of over 400,000 men shows overdiagnosis risk doubles from 16% at age 50 to 32% at 70, and reaches 58% at age 80.
Older men are more likely to die from other causes before prostate cancer would be detected, making PSA screening less beneficial and increasing unnecessary harm from overtreatment.
Advances like MRI-guided biopsies are expected to reduce overdiagnosis, and ongoing trials aim to improve screening benefits. Researchers recommend men consider age and health before requesting PSA tests.
Have modern MRIs made prostate cancer screening fears for younger men obsolete?
For men over 70, is a cancer diagnosis more dangerous than its treatment?
What simple action before a PSA test can prevent a misleadingly high result?
Could 'Active Surveillance' be the ultimate solution to the prostate screening dilemma?
Are current screening guidelines failing Black men, who face double the risk?
If screening doesn't improve overall survival, why is it still so widely promoted?