Prostate Cancer, Could It Be Overdiagnosed?

According to some doctors, it is possible that prostate cancer is being overdiagnosed. What does that really mean? Either you have cancer or you don’t, right? True, but it is the stage at which the cancer is detected that counts here. The wisdom is that oftentimes when prostate cancer is diagnosed the tumor is so small and the cancer grows at such a slow pace that the odds are the individual would die of something else before they would die from prostate cancer.

Research is currently being conducted to determine at what point a prostate cancer diagnosis actually make a patient’s life better. Dr. Len Lichtenfeld of the American Cancer Society says that the newly released study by researchers in the Netherlands and released by the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, "reinforces the message that we are overdiagnosing prostate cancer." The newly released study found four out of the ten tumors that were found in patients involved in the study were so small and slow growing that the odds are, the tumors would have never caused a patient any problems. Dr. Lichtenfield says these estimates may even be low for the number of patients that are overdiagnosed. Some doctors are raising the questions as to when do you diagnose the cancer and when do you just let nature run its course.

The newly released study followed prostate cancer diagnosed in men ages 54 to 80, between 1985 and 2000, in the U.S. The study followed three different models developed by cancer centers to attempt at more accurately estimating over diagnosis of prostate cancer. The team, led by researchers at Erasmus University Medical Center in the Netherlands, found from 23 to 42 percent of patients, who were diagnosed through PSA tests, a blood test that measures prostate specific antigen where elevated levels may indicate problems, would have had their prostate cancer go undetected through their lifetime if it hadn’t been for the PSA test.

The study tried to determine, at what point PSA tests are necessary and at what point bypassing the test would be better. Many doctors believe because of over diagnosis, many men undergo unnecessary tests or take medications that do not really extend their lives. The recently released study concluded many PSA test diagnose prostate cancer too often because though the patient may really have the cancer, the tumors are so small and slow-growing that old age or some other factor would lead to death before the prostate cancer. While the American Cancer Society doesn't recommend routine testing for prostate cancer, they do recommend doctors offer testing to patients annually, beginning at age 50.

Even after the recent release of the new study, that has found prostate cancer is over diagnosed, doctors are scratching their heads still wondering when to recommend testing and when not to. Doctors are trying to determine if early detection is beneficial to patients, such as with early detection in breast, cervical and colorectal cancers, where early detection is almost crucial. There are currently studies being conducted to attempt determining when prostate cancer screenings should be offered, which tumors are the worrisome ones and those that are not. Right now, there does not seem to be a clear answer. Before being tested for prostate cancer, talk to your doctor in regards to the potential benefits and the risks. It could save you some unnecessary testing and worries.