Fritz Schroder of the Netherlands told the European Cancer Conference that unnecessary tests are being done and that has led to a lot of needless surgeries.

Schroder says it's unethical to apply the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test without telling patients all the information about the test and the detection of prostate cancer.

The PSA test looks for certain markers in the blood - high levels suggest that the man may have prostate cancer. It is generally done on men over 50.

The prostate gland lies just under the bladder and is close to a number of tissues important in continence and sexual function. It produces part of the fluid that carries sperm.

Most are slow-growing tumors

Schroder and other specialists point out two-thirds of men with elevated PSA levels don't actually have the disease. It could mean they have a simple infection or inflammation of the prostate.

Some men with normal readings have turned out to have cancer, so the test isn't accurate.

Statistics from the United States indicate an increase in the detection of prostate cancer. However, most of the cancers are slow-growing tumors in elderly men who are unlikely to die from it.

In Canada, about seven out of every 10 men diagnosed with prostate cancer will die from other causes such as heart disease, stroke or old age.

Nevertheless, many have gone ahead with radiotherapy or surgery to remove the prostate. Both carry a high risk of leaving the patient impotent, incontinent, or both.

According to the data in the U.S.:

• 60 per cent were impotent 18 months after surgery
  
• Eight per cent had complete urinary incontinence
  
• 40 per cent had occasional urinary problems

Schroder says the PSA tests are important and useful but only when the patient is fully informed of the facts.

He recommends doctors use a wait and see approach if the patient tests positive. That means periodic visits to see if the tumor has grown.

Canadian Public Broadcasting October 25, 2001

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

I do believe that the PSA is a good test that suggests that the person is at an increased risk of developing prostate cancer and should make aggressive efforts to treat it naturally. It is encouraging to note that 70% of those diagnosed with prostate cancer will die from other causes. This gives men with elevated PSAs a bit more of a luxury time-wise to implement changes in their life which will cause the regression of any cancerous or pre-cancerous tissue. So aggressively following the eating plan and a good exercise program will be enormously helpful in lowering insulin levels and secondarily decreasing your risk of prostate cancer. Ground flaxseeds can also be an effective source of nutrients to battle prostate cancer. The seeds should be freshly ground in a coffee grinder and I prefer to have them in my freshly produced vegetable juice pulp. If you decide to use flax seeds I suggest adding them to the pulp after you have added juice back to it. If you do otherwise the ground up seeds will absorb much of the liquid in the juice and turn into a relatively non-palatable gelatinous mess. The lignin fibers in flax contain water soluble fibers very similar to Metamucil (psyllium) and they are very effective at absorbing water. The gel is not dangerous to eat but, the texture is certainly less desirable. Most people who juice throw away the pulp, but I am convinced it is a valuable source of nutrients and should be consumed like a porridge while drinking your fresh vegetable juice. Pumpkin seeds have other fats in them, which are likely to be particularly beneficial for prostate health.