Despite being one of the most common diagnostic tests given to men, the PSA test to screen for prostate cancer continues to be a source of controversy. In fact, just today the American College of Physicians became the latest group to recommend against routine screening with the PSA test, citing limited benefits and significant potential side effects. In this video, Dr. William Dale, chief of the Section of Geriatrics & Palliative Medicine at the University of Chicago Medicine, talks about why the PSA test is so controversial, the potential risks of inappropriate screening and gives his recommendations for when a man should be screened for prostate cancer.
Dr. Dale also published research recently on how emotions like stress and anxiety play into a man’s decision to get the PSA test. I spoke to Ashwin Kotwal, a medical student who worked on the study with Dr. Dale, for a post on Science Life last month.