PSA Testing: What Should Men Do?

On the other hand, aggressive treatment of prostate cancer carries its own dangers, which include possible incontinence and impotence. Raghavan noted that the overall survival in the European trial was the same for those who had screening and those who did not, while Brawley was uncomfortable with the European finding that 48 men had to be treated to save one life.

"The data that have come out show only a small relative benefit," Raghavan said. "For people who are looking for an argument for screening, it isn't there."

Moul countered that, "we may be detecting many cancers that never threaten lives. But we are saving lives."

More information

There's more on prostate cancer at the U.S. National Cancer Institute.