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It's in the news again, prostate cancer tests may do more harm than good. Well bugger me my GP gave me a random DRE and didn't like what he felt, off to the urologist and the end result was out of 12 cores 75% were cancerous gleason 9 grade 5, so for moi it did more good than harm.
All the recommendations around the world say the same thing, very broadly speaking - that screening using PSA only has led to over diagnosis and over treatment. None of the recommendations suggest that doctros should not carry out DRE (Digital Rectal Examinations) or that they should not use PSA tests as part of a diagnositic work up in men where there might be some benefit.
Nothing would have changed as far as your particular position is concerned. If you had a good doctor who caried out a DRE at appropriate intervals, he would still refer you to a urologist if he followed currecnt recommendations.
Terry, just stating my own particular situation, my PSA was 3, and no symptoms as a matter of fact I only went to the GP with a sore wrist! since then family members who became concerned had difficulties finding a GP that would even do a DRE!