Should we stop screening for prostate cancer? The answer is: No.

More than 26,000 men die of prostate cancer every year, and detecting cancer early can lead to curing it. Prostate cancer is serious in young men, black men and in those with strong family histories of prostate cancer.

But the PSA test is simply too inaccurate to investigate every patient with an elevated result. Many things cause PSA levels to be abnormally high, including a very large prostate, recent sexual activity and prostatitis.

For men between the ages of 40 and 70, PSA measurements should be obtained every one or two years. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force does not recommend PSA measurements in men older than 75; some experts state that it is of no value for a man who is 70 or older.

Screening also should include an annual digital rectal examination. That can identify very hard nodules, which may indicate the presence of a cancer.

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