His and Her Health

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has concluded that healthy men should not undergo routine prostate-specific antigen testing(PSA), the New York Times reports. This news was reported in Physician's First Watch for October 7, 2011
The recommendation, which will be made available for public comment ...., was based on an analysis of five trials and applies to men of all ages. The Times quotes the task force's chairwoman: "Unfortunately, the evidence now shows that this test does not save men's lives ... This test cannot tell the difference between cancers that will and will not affect a man during his natural lifetime."
In 2008, the USPSTF recommended against PSA testing in men aged 75 or older, and said evidence was insufficient to recommend for or against testing in younger men.(PSA is a blood test.)
The Times further reported that there are 44 million such men in the United States, and 33 million of them have already had a PSA test — sometimes without their knowledge — during routine physicals.
The New York Times story can be read by clicking here.