New Prostate Screening Recommendations Worry Men’s Health Groups

The U. S. Preventive Services Task Force has released a draft recommendation downgrading routine testing of blood levels for signs of prostate cancer.   Advocates for men’s health are worried about the report.

The PSA, or prostate-specific antigen,  testing would no longer be recommended for men who do not have symptoms that are highly suspicious for prostate cancer. The Task Force says research shows overall, the test leads to unnecessary surgery for slow-growing cancers.

 Ana Fadich of the Men’s Health Network worries this will put men who need to be screened at risk.  She says it may discourage people from getting screened.  She says the Network encourages anyone over the age of 40 with a family history of prostate cancer to be screened and see their doctor on a regular basis.

Fadich says the African American population and Vietnam Veterans are among those more susceptible to prostate cancer and she fears they will not get the proper screenings. She says people should consult with their physician.

 Theresa Morrow, co founder of Women Against Prostate Cancer, says the downgrade could affect insurance coverage. She says in the Affordable Care Act, there’s guaranteed insurance coverage of any preventive health screenings that have an “A’ or “B” rating from the Task Force.  The new recommendation for the PSA screening would give it a “D” rating.  Morrow says they don’t know if it would continue to be covered.

Morrow says a couple of insurers have said they will be looking at their policies on covering the PSA screening.  She says in an economy where states are trying to save money, this could be an excuse for them to cut one more thing.

Morrow says in younger men, prostate cancer can be aggressive. Early detection is very important. She says a man will not show symptoms until prostate cancer is in its late stages.

 Morrow says they would like to see men’s preventive health services be included in affordable care legislation and would like a national Office of Men’s Health similar to the Office of Women’s Health. She agrees that it’s not always easy to get some men to go to the doctor and downgrading the PSA test might further discourage them. She says a “D” rating would give them an excuse not to seek the screening and confuse them about whether they should, or shouldn’t do it.