Prostate cancer testing is on trial

Prostate cancer testing is on trial 3 June 2014 - The University of Sydney's School of Public Health is seeking people to participate in a "community jury" to independently asses the process of Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) testing in Australia. The PSA test is often used to test healthy men to see whether they have prostate cancer. However, experts disagree about whether, when and how the PSA test should be used for this purpose. Chief investigator of the study, Associate Professor Stacy Carter , said this study is important because although many men are concerned about prostate cancer, the messages they receive can be confusing. "Our research team is calling out for participants to be part of a community jury to consider how men and their GPs should approach PSA testing," she said. "We will present the current evidence and then ask people to consider, debate and decide the best way to manage PSA testing for prostate cancer in otherwise healthy men. "Those arguing for the PSA test say it can save men's lives and may prevent problems from development of primary and secondary tumours.