Ultrasound scan shows signs of prostate cancer
CAVALLINI JAMES/BSIP SA/Alamy
As a man in my 50s, I’ve started to think about what troubles I might run into later in life. One issue that has always worried me is prostate cancer. I have a family history that puts me at higher risk for prostate cancer. I don’t have any major symptoms. Still, I should get tested now. But for years, I’ve read that prostate cancer tests are inaccurate and can lead to unnecessary surgery, which carries the risk of incontinence and impotence. People have always told me that even if you get prostate cancer, you’re unlikely to die from it.
I’m not the first person to be confused about prostate cancer and whether or not to test for it, but these questions are becoming increasingly important today because we are in the midst of a disturbing global trend. According to recent projections, prostate cancer cases will surge over the next 15 years, and deaths will also rise dramatically if nothing is done.
Yet while the increase in cases is inevitable—reflecting an aging population—the increase in deaths is not. That’s because, in recent years, we’ve begun to see a shift in diagnostic tools. These tools are helping doctors identify the most aggressive prostate cancers…
