Physician experts call for systems-based approach to prostate cancer screening decisions

Article excerpt

Prostate cancer screening remains a murky choice for millions of men, many unaware of the trade-offs between catching early disease and unnecessary biopsies or false alarms. A new editorial from UNC physicians argues that shared decision-making, where doctors and patients weigh options together, shouldn't rely on individual doctors' initiative but should be systematized into healthcare infrastructure itself. The authors contend that only structural changes can ensure men consistently receive balanced information about screening's real benefits and harms rather than leaving the quality of conversation to chance.