The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Updates Screening Guidelines for Prostate Cancer

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recently updated their prostate screening recommendations.

On April 11, 2017, the USPSTF issued an updated draft recommendation on screening for prostate cancer.  The updated recommendation changes the grade for PSA-based screening from “D” to “C” for men 55 – 69 years of age.  As a result, the USPSTF now recommends that clinicians discuss with men aged 55 to 69 what the potential benefits and harms of prostate screening entail.  For men aged 70 years and older, the USPSTF maintains its “D” recommendation that 70 and older should not be screened for prostate cancer.  Previous USPSTF recommendations (May 2012) were against PSA-based screening for prostate cancer, regardless of age.

The draft recommendation applies to adult men who have not been previously diagnosed with prostate cancer and have no signs or symptoms of the disease.  It also applies to men at average risk and men who are at increased risk, such as African American men and those with a family history of prostate cancer.

The American Urological Association (AUA), the leading advocate for the specialty of urology with more than 21,000 members worldwide, commended the USPSTF for upgrading its recommendation for screening among men 55 to 69 years of age.

“The draft recommendations are thoughtful and reasonable, and are in direct alignment with the AUA’s clinical practice guideline and guidelines from most other major physician groups,” said Richard K. Babayan, M.D., AUA President.

At Oklahoma CyberKnife, men diagnosed with prostate cancer are treated with the CyberKnife® Robotic Radiosurgery System.  CyberKnife is a painless, nonsurgical prostate cancer treatment technology in which high-dose radiation is delivered to the tumor from a linear accelerator mounted on a highly maneuverable robotic arm.  Hundreds of different angles enable the radiation to be contoured to the shape of the prostate, resulting in treatment aimed directly to the prostate gland, avoiding nearby critical anatomy.  This precision reduces treatment time to just five outpatient visits, compared to the average 45 visits conventional radiation therapy requires.

To learn more about how Oklahoma CyberKnife treats prostate cancer, including a video on prostate cancer treatment, please click here.