The Failed Medical Experiment: PSA Screening for Prostate Cancer

Dr. Jeffrey Dach, MD

A Case of an Elevated PSA
Jim Smith is a 55-year old athlete and outdoorsman, who runs marathons and camps out. He was not at all worried about prostate cancer until he saw the Larry King Live Show endorsing PSA screening for prostate cancer.  Larry King played clips showing celebrity endorsements from Colin Powell, Joe Torre, Don Imus, Charlton Heston,  Jerry Lewis, Arnold Palmer, Rudy Giuliani,  John Kerry, Bob Dole,  Norman Schwarzkoff, John McEnroe and Michael Milken all relating personal prostate cancer stories.  Watching all these celebrities urging PSA testing on the Larry King show lured Jim into a local Miami hospital offering free screening for prostate cancer.
Jim's PSA test showed an elevated PSA of 4.7 (normal is less than 4), so Jim was sent over to a local urologist office all set for a needle biopsy of his prostate...continued...source