The New York Times is reporting (article linked below) that the American Urological Association (AUA) has changed its position on PSA testing. Up until now, the AUA recommended all men over age 40 have an annual P$A test.
Now they are recommending regular PSA tests for -- nobody.
After a large body of solid scientific research has shown that PSA tests do more harm than good and don't
really extend lives, the AUA -- which previously fought tooth and nail to protect their lucrative prostate cancer screening and intervention business -- has finally backed off.
The AUA is now simply recommending that men between 55 and 69 "discuss the PSA test" with their urologist, in hopes that the urologist can scare them into taking the test.
Don't go down that road!
You may recall that several large, long-running and well-conducted studies of PSA testing followed by aggressive treatment -- showed that urologists have no way of distinguishing between very common prostate cancer which will never develop into anything life-threatening, and those cancers which will.
Moreover, these multiple studies have shown PSA tests followed by aggressive therapies like surgery and radiation save no lives, when compared with control groups receiving no testing and no intervention.
So the truth from the science is that PSA tests, followed by surgery, radiation, hormone treatment and other interventions -- don't actually save or extend lives at all.
Treating cancer aggressively can feel like the "right" thing to do, because you're "taking action," and your urologist may be urging you to do so. What is "right" for your urologist, who will earn around $18,000 as their fee for prostetomy (the hospital earns between $30,000 and $40,000) may not be "right" for you. Think about whether you want to go through that, when science shows it will not change your outcome, but will likely harm you permanently.
The AUA changing their guidelines is rather major. The urology association is financed by dues paid by urologists, advertising and contributions from drug companies, and research grants. This is an acknowledgement of the research showing their expensive treatments are not what they once claimed.
So where does that leave us?
Obviously it leaves us with what science IS showing is the best way to deal with the threat of prostate cancer -- a healthy, dairy-free, plant-based diet, which can dramatically lower Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) level.
Studies have shown that increased levels of IGF lead to increased growth of existing cancer cells. Arnaldez FI, Helman LJ (June 2012). "Targeting the insulin growth factor receptor 1". Hematol. Oncol. Clin. North Am. 26 (3): 527–42, vii–viii.
The Standard American Diet, with it's emphasis on animal protein and dairy, is an IGF-1-making machine!
You can find out what your IGF-1 level is through a simple blood test. If yours is high, you're at a higher risk for prostate, breast or colon cancer.
A high protein diet raises your IGF-1 levels, and increases risk of cancer.
Plant-based diets are naturally low in protein, devoid of animal proteins, and thus lower risk of cancer. T. Colin Campbell PhD discusses IGF-1 research and mechanisms in detail in his books.
Why isn't the American Urology Association telling its members to test for IGF-1, and to advise the public to eliminate animal products and excessive protein in the diet, in order to lower IGF-1 levels?
The answer is obvious: there's no money in that.
This is why VegSource.com came into existence, because the medical world is focused on treatments, interventions, pills -- and profits.
Focus on food, not urologists who push services that science shows, decades later, are worthless and in fact quite harmful.