The PSA Testing Conundrum with Dr. Jacques Carter

Dr. J. Jacques Carter, Assistant Professor of Medicine from Harvard Medical School and Medical Director at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, presented on The PSA Testing Conundrum. He began by explaining that some groups advise prostate cancer screenings while others may not due to varying guidelines from different medical organizations. Dr. Carter showed statistics and graphics behind the prostate cancer incidence and mortality rates among Black men.

He stated that only 30% of men with elevated PSAs have prostate cancer. That has led to organizations recommending to avoid PSA testing. However, many among that 30% can die from prostate cancer, which is why PSA testing is still important. Dr. Carter delved into the 2012 recommendation from the US Preventive Services Task Force for men to forgo PSA screening due to the potential harms and possibly smaller benefits, as some men who undergo prostate cancer treatments and/or surgeries may not have needed these more drastic measures for survival.

Yet, it is unclear which men may or may not benefit from treatment versus active surveillance. Other groups, such as the American Academy of Family Physicians, also followed suit with a similar recommendation. He suggested taking part in shared decision-making and having an educated conversation with one’s healthcare provider to decide on one’s prostate cancer screening process.

Dr. Compton Benjamin, a Neurologist and Assistant Professor at the George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, discussed the natural history of prostate cancer and prostate cancer screening. He outlined that African American men have the highest rate of prostate cancer detection and prostate cancer deaths, showing that this disease has a significant disparity for this population. These panelists also answered audience questions.

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