It's always a challenging conversation to have with patient when discussing the risks and benefits of cancer screening. In my practice, I find following strict age guidelines for all patients does not work. You must look at the individual health of each patient to determine when it is right to offer cancer screening.
Read MoreEarlier this morning, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) released its final recommendation statement on Screening for Prostate Cancer. Given the response from prostate cancer specialists and the rise in prostate cancer since the recommendations against screening were released in 2012, it is not a surprise that the USPSTF maintained its upgraded recommendations in favor of prostate cancer screening. These final recommendations are in alignment with the AUA recommendations for men ages 55 to 69. The guidelines are also congruent with many medical societies including the the American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Cancer Society, the American College of Physicians, and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network
Read MoreProstate cancer care has seen tremendous advances over the last ten years. As urologists, we have become more thoughtful about the over treatment of low grade cancers and new technologies such as MRI have given us tools to better risk stratify patients and offer surveillance to more patients. A fascinating new multi-institutional study from Europe, the PRECISION trial, found that MRI prior to biopsy of the prostate for cancer detection is superior to standard ultrasound-guided biopsy among men at risk for prostate cancer, published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
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