Task Force: Prostate Cancer Test Not Worth Risk
BANFIELD: Think about getting screened for prostate cancer? You might want to reconsider, because in a controversial move, the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force is recommending men do not undergo regular prostate screening for cancer, saying it does more harm than good. I know it sounds surprising but CNN's Alina Cho has been digging into this one. It sounds reminiscent of the breast cancer issue with mammograms we had a few years ago. It's serious.</s>ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is serious and I'll tell you something, it's counterintuitive. And we've heard for so long, let's get screened -- let's get screened for cancer. That's why so many people are surprised about this and it affects at least 44 million American men, Ashleigh. Good morning. Good morning, everybody. You know, if you think about it, it's really something for many people is just hard to understand, why wouldn't you get tested for prostate cancer? Well, an influential federal panel says it's not always best to catch cancer as early as possible. We're going to explain that in just a minute. But that is why essentially the United States Preventative Services Task Force is now recommending against what's commonly referred to as the PSA test. It's a simple blood test. And the task force is saying at best PSA screening may help 1 in 1,000 men avoid death from prostate cancer and may do more harm than good because most prostate cancers found by screening are slow growing and not life-threatening, and will not cause a man any harm at all during his lifetime. What can actually is the treatment. Most men who are in the words of some over-diagnosed will suffer serious side effects from treatment like radiation and surgery, treatment they may not need and the side effects include impotence, incontinence, and possibly even early death.</s>BANFIELD: This is not the first time the panel has weighed in, in a controversial way with regard to medicine.</s>CHO: That's right. You referred to the mammogram story. We all remember that, women in particular. Right. This is the same panel that waived when it recommended women in their 40s should skip routine mammograms. As for the PSA test which is a simple blood test, while the American Cancer Society has not recommended that routine PSA screenings since the late 1990s should occur, the American Urological Association still recommends that men get baseline screenings at age 40, if they wish to be tested. The bottom line from the task force is the evidence shows that the benefits do not outweigh the risks in this case. It's really interesting, again, counterintuitive.</s>BANFIELD: Counterintuitive, and when you hear the headline on your morning news program saying don't get this screening, it's going to cause a lot of waves. What has the reaction so far been?</s>CHO: Well, it's interesting. It was swift, as you might imagine and pretty forceful. The Urological Association condemned the finding, no surprise there, standing by the PSA test, and says, quote, "It is inappropriate and irresponsible to issue a blanket statement against PSA testing particularly for at-risk populations." They go on to say that what could happen as a result is many men will no longer get tested because they think they don't need to and prostate cancer a PSA could have caught early may go unnoticed. Obviously, people on the other side have a different point of view and one doctor said -- it's so interesting, Ashleigh -- I'm quoting, "We've been told for decades to be terrified of cancer and the only hope is early detection and treatment. The reality is," she said, "you don't need to detect all cancers. We don't want this to be the answer" -- meaning the PSA. "We want to screen for the ones that are going to be aggressive, manage those early and leave everyone else alone."</s>BANFIELD: Yes.</s>CHO: She does a point but it is scary.</s>BANFIELD: No matter how you slice it, probably the best advice is to talk to your doctor and do what's right for you and your doctor will help guide you. Alina, that's weird stuff and I don't think that's the end of it. Thank you. Appreciate it. Zoraida?</s>SAMBOLIN: Soledad O'Brien joins with us a look at what is ahead on "STARTING POINT." Good morning.</s>SOLEDAD O'BRIEN: Oh, so much. Good morning to you, Zoraida. Ahead this morning on "STARTING POINT," taxpayers are picking up roughly $1 million tab for a group of judges to go to a conference in lovely Hawaii. You look at the picture. Don't you wish you were going on the trip? We'll talk with Senator Chuck Grassley, he's outraged about the cost of the trip and why it might be time to end conferences like these all together. Plus, we'll look at what's happening in Joplin, Missouri, a year after a tornado wiped out a third of that town. We'll meet the photographer behind a powerful new project that features photos of survivors who write messages on their bodies, illustrating the struggles and their hopes. Absolutely beautiful work. And the potential threat to America's security -- how did fake military parts from China get into the hands of our troops? Senator Carl Levin is launching a legislation into counterfeit items. He's going to join us this morning to talk about why every American should be outraged about that. That and much more coming up when we start at 7:00 a.m. Eastern on "STARTING POINT." I'll see you there right at the top of the hour.