Founder of the renowned Prostate Seed Institute talks about the importance of testing.

Irving, TX, – While the jury is still out in regard to cause and effect, researchers have found that the rates of diagnosis for metastatic prostate cancer rose quite significantly as the frequency of routine screening dropped over the past few years. Whether the spike in numbers is completely connected to the prostate-specific antigen test falling out of favor or not remains to be seen. The numbers, however, point to the need for men and their doctors to be proactive about screening.

The troubling data culled for analysis pertains to the number of cases of prostate cancer diagnosed between 2004 and 2013. Researchers ultimately found that the number of new cases of advanced prostate cancer was 72 percent higher in 2013 than in 2004. The number of low-risk cases diagnosed during that period declined. So, too, did the use of routine screening with the PSA test.

“Prostate cancer is largely treatable with a high degree of success when it is detected in its earliest stages,” explains Dr. Gregory Echt, founder and lead surgeon at the Prostate Seed Institute. “When prostate cancer is more aggressive or has been allowed to go undetected, treatment can be more complicated. Routine screening simply enables men and their doctors to take appropriate, potentially life-saving action, sooner.”

The PSA test was taken off the table as a routine screen several years ago by the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force. Given its high false positive rate and other imperfections, the organization sought to spare men from over-diagnosis and risky follow-up diagnostics. With no viable replacement for widespread screening, the test has since been reintroduced as a recommended measure on a case-by-case basis.

“The PSA is far from perfect, but it can serve as a life-saving red flag,” says Dr. Echt. “Men are strongly advised to talk to their doctors about their prostate cancer risks and whether routine screening with the PSA or other tools is advisable based upon those risks.”

About The Prostate Seed Institute
The Prostate Seed Institute is one of the country’s leading pioneers in prostate cancer treatment including prostate seed implementation, a fast and painless procedure that effectively treats prostate cancer in its earliest stages. With a team of oncology experts and a state-of-the-art facility, the Prostate Seed Institute provides prostate cancer patients with the most comprehensive treatment available. To see the Procedure Comparison Chart and learn more about the Prostate Seed InstituteCLICK HERE.