Abstract
Prostate cancer is the most frequent cancer in older men. The benefit of mass screening is one of the hot topics in the urological community. The main question is related to the potential public health benefit of mass screening using PSA testing and digital rectal examination. The question is even more debatable in senior adults. Proponents of screening argue that mass screening leads to an early discovery of the tumor and more effective and less toxic curative treatment. Two large randomized studies have attempted to answer this question, which seems the only reasonable way to decide. But none have given a definitive answer.
At present, the interpretations of these two major studies diverge; early diagnosis remains the single most honest option to offer patients.
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Terrier, J.E., Boyle, H., Mottet, N. (2013). Prostate Cancer Screening or Early Diagnosis in Senior Adults?. In: Droz, JP., Audisio, R. (eds) Management of Urological Cancers in Older People. Management of Cancer in Older People, vol 1. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-85729-999-4_5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-85729-999-4_5
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