Men Should Get a PSA Test Before The Age of 50 – Dr. David Samadi Emphasizes On The Importance

An article published on Urologic Oncology in August 2016, compared prostate cancer and surgery results among men under and over the age of 50. The study was performed using a database of 2,495 men with prostate cancer who underwent SMART surgery.

“The young men in the study had advanced stage prostate cancer similar to older men. The clinical and pathologic characteristics of prostate cancer in the two groups of patients were similar and the PSA level prior to surgery in the young population was similar to the older group,” says Dr. David Samadi.

These findings contradict the recommendations by United States Preventive Service Task Force (USPSTF). USPSTF has advocated against the use of PSA screening since 2012. USPSTF argued that the benefits of PSA testing in men aged 55 to 69 years old, may not justify the cost of implementing PSA as a screening tool.

September is prostate cancer awareness month

Recent analysis of the National Cancer Database revealed that detection of early localized prostate cancer has shown a decreasing pattern for the second year in a row now. Evidently, the incidences of advanced prostate cancer has an increasing pattern at the same time. The relationship that links lack of detection with increased incidences, reflects the impact of USPSTF’s recommendation against PSA testing.

“September is prostate cancer awareness month. I would like to recommend that all men over the age of 40 choose to undergo a single PSA test. This will help in detecting prostate cancer early and having a baseline level for further comparison in the future,” said Dr. Samadi.

Results of the study shows that screening as early as the age of 50 can result in the reduction of missed diagnosis of early prostate cancer in up to 11% of patients with the disease. In the analysis of the study, 271 men were found to have significant prostate cancer at a mean age of 46.

Results of robotic surgery are shown to depend on the experience of the surgeon

A delay in diagnosis leads to advanced prostate cancer which complicates the definitive treatment. Patients with advanced prostate cancer and metastasis have limited treatment options. However, current technology in robotic surgery has helped men with early prostate cancer gain a hold on their normal life. Results of robotic surgery are shown to depend on the experience of the surgeon. The results presented in the published study demonstrate surgical outcomes of SMART surgery performed by Dr. David Samadi over the last decade. The results show that 12-months post-surgery, 94% of young men and 83% of elder men had normal sexual function.

Similarly, at the 12-month visit following surgery, 96% of young men and 94% of elder men had urinary continence. A further analysis on the results of the study showed that when young men were compared to elder men with similar demographic, clinical and pathologic function, the recovery of surgery was statistically superior among young men. These findings show that treatment of prostate cancer should not be delayed since the outcomes of surgery are more favorable at younger ages.

Patients newly diagnosed with prostate cancer can contact world renowned prostate cancer surgeon and urologic oncologist Dr. David Samadi at 212-365-5000 for a free phone consultation. To learn more about prostate cancer, visit ProstateCancer911.com.