Prostate cancer screening: what's a fellow to do?

Abstract

Prostate cancer is responsible for more than 27,000 deaths annually and is the most common non-skin cancer of men in North America. Over the years, a variety of screening approaches have been recommended. Despite increased sensitivity of the tests and effective public awareness campaigns, screening for this cancer remains surprisingly controversial. In this article, we review what makes a good screening test. We also review the evidence behind screening for prostate cancer and the current screening recommendations by a variety of reputable organizations.