[Video] CDC Posts Prostate Cancer Screening Videos: Men 55 to 69 Should Decide With Their Doctor
Washington — The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on October 23 posted two short videos from its 'Talk to Nathan' series on its official video channel, using the animated character Nathan to explain prostate cancer screening and urging men to learn the possible benefits and risks and to make the decision together with their doctor. One video, running 1 minute 19 seconds, explains how men can decide whether screening is right for them; the other, running 1 minute 23 seconds, covers the basics of prostate cancer screening.
The CDC's screening guidance follows the current recommendation of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF): men who are 55 to 69 should make their own decision about being screened for prostate cancer with the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, and before deciding should talk to their doctor about the benefits and risks of screening, including the benefits and risks of other tests and treatment; men who are 70 and older should not be screened routinely. The recommendation applies to men who are at average or increased risk for prostate cancer, do not have symptoms, and have never been diagnosed with the disease. The videos restate the CDC's longstanding screening guidance in short-form video; they do not announce a new policy.
According to the CDC, there is no standard test to screen for prostate cancer. The main screening test is the PSA blood test, which measures the level of prostate-specific antigen in the blood. Some doctors may also use a digital rectal examination (DRE), but the USPSTF does not recommend DRE as a screening test because of a lack of evidence on the benefits. A higher PSA level does not necessarily mean cancer: an enlarged prostate, a prostate infection, certain medications and certain medical procedures can all affect PSA levels, as can age and race, and the CDC says a doctor is the best person to interpret the results. If the PSA test is abnormal, the doctor may recommend a biopsy to find out if cancer is present.
The CDC notes that prostate cancer screening tests may be covered by a health insurance policy, and advises readers to check with their plan to find out which tests are covered. Men thinking about getting screened should learn about the possible benefits and risks of screening and talk to their doctor about their personal risk of getting prostate cancer.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：美国疾控中心（CDC）官方科普视频《与内森对话：想一想前列腺癌筛查》封面，CDC 官方发布，公共领域。Cover of the CDC official video 'Talk to Nathan: Thinking About Prostate Cancer Screening.' Official CDC release, public domain.
