Independent Panel Concludes Prostate Cancer Blood Test Not Worth the Risk
Posted on October 8, 2011CBS News reports that an independent government panel has concluded that a PSA (prostate specific antigen) blood test used to diagnose prostate cancer is not worth its risks. There are 241,000 cases of prostate cancer each year. 34,000 of the cases result in death. The PSA blood test can run positive for non-cancer causes such as infections and an enlarged prostate.
Early Show medical correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton says the test can generate false positives, which can lead to unnecessary biopsies, surgery and radiation. She also says there can be false negatives. Take a look: