Pinning Down Prostate Cancer Risk

The British Medical Journal has recently published a controlled study of over 21,000 men between the ages of 40 and 55, to determine the association of PSA scores during that age range and subsequent risk of prostate cancer metastasis and mortality.  They found that PSA concentration can be used to predict long term (up to 25 or 30 years) risk of metastasis or death from prostate cancer.   They found that testing before the age of 45 was not diagnostic.  They found that, for those with below average PSA scores before age 55, screening was necessary only every 10 years.  They found that the group with the highest scores before age 55 required closer and more frequent screening to enable the disease to be treated as soon as possible.

Source:  www.bmj.com

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309