https://upload.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=20327449
The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) guidelines advising against PSA testing for men aged 70 and older were revised in May 2018. Prior to that, the USPSTF had previously recommended against PSA testing for all men. The 2018 update specifically addressed men in the 55-69 age range, allowing for individual decision-making with their doctor after discussing the potential benefits and harms of the test, while continuing to discourage PSA testing for those 70 and older.
I am not a urologist, but I do understand the issues with this highly sensitive, but poorly specific test. What that means is that men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a very common non-cancer enlargement that comes with age can also trigger an increase in PSA, so a digital exam is recommended. That said, the USPSTF also looked at the risk-benefits of aggressive treatment, whether surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy in men over the age of 70 with likely concomitant medical risk factors (e.g., heart disease, hypertension, etc.) and determined that the treatments and diagnostics from false positive PSA readings or even indicated treatments might pose more risk than benefit in this older age group. That is the thinking (along with some unnecessary cost issues, because MRI is the indicated test to sort it out at considerable expense).
Does any of the above really apply to a current or recent President whose medical care is basically unlimited? Probably not, but there are issues that Biden's physicians would have taken into account--whatever they might be.
and a follow-up:
https://upload.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=20327600
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