As we’ve been pointing out for the past five years, prostate screening cannot prevent cancer, and may even be doing more harm than good.
The NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination says that existing tests are not accurate enough to detect cancer and could cause unnecessary anxiety if false positives were produced.
Instead, the centre suggests a policy of “watchful waiting”. Although prostate cancer is present in four out of five man aged over 80, they are likely to die with it, rather than of it, because it is so slow growing.
The main symptoms increased frequency of urination and weak or intermittent flow are also the same for benign enlargement of the prostate, a more common condition.