This distinction is important because some doctors are concerned that if early detection turns out not to save lives, its only result will be that men live longer with the knowledge that they have cancer, and endure side effects longer because their treatment begins earlier. Others believe early detection will result in more men living longer because the disease is slowed or stopped by treatment in an earlier stage. One of the points of screening is to find more patients with early disease. Screening is done mainly in the hope that early detection will save lives of prostate cancer patients just as it has saved lives of breast cancer and colon cancer patients, he says, but whether it can accomplish that remains controversial. Litwin says more will be known about whether prostate cancer screening saves lives upon completion of a larger ongoing study, of which Madalinska s report was a first part, and that screening should be available to those who want it.
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed invasive cancer among American men.
The ACS expects 198,100 new cases of prostate cancer to be diagnosed in 2001, and 31,500 deaths from the disease during the year. 2001 AzStarNet, Arizona Daily Star and its wire services and suppliers, and may not be republished without permission. All rights reserved. Any copying, redistribution, or retransmission of any of the contents of this service without the express written consent of Arizona Daily Star or AzStarNet is prohibited.