Two different studies. Two different ideas. Both taking the PSA debate head on.

“PSA was first used clinically in 1988 and was originally developed for following prostate cancer,” explains Dr. Barry Blitz, a urologist on the medical staff of Lee Memorial Health System. The first study reports PSA screening decreased prostate cancer deaths by 20%. The other study found higher levels of PSA screening did not influence the mortality rate.

The argument: whether or not these numbers could signal a wrong diagnosis. Dr. Blitz says the focus shouldn’t solely be on the PSA measurement. “In addition, some patients with some very aggressive prostate cancers may not make any PSA at all. Its not unusual to do a rectal exam, find a lump in a patient who has essentially a normal PSA, do a biopsy, and still find prostate cancer.”

He believes it’s too early to dismiss the PSA test all together. “As a screening test it’s helpful. But by no means is it perfect. In fact, some patients with a high PSA may not have cancer at all. Sometimes they have a large prostate, he may have a urinary tract infection, or maybe their prostate cancer just manufactures a lot of PSA,” explains Dr Blitz.

As the debate over PSAs continues, doctors say until something concrete comes along, they’ll keep on testing the old-fashioned way.