Prostate cancer screening discussions are rare, but make a big difference, according to study

Article excerpt

Millions of men face a decision about whether to be screened for prostate cancer. National guidelines say that decision should begin with a conversation about the risks and benefits of testing. But a new Medical University of South Carolina study suggests those conversations may not be happening nearly as often as they should. Researchers found that discussions about prostate cancer screening were documented in only a small fraction of primary care visits. Yet when those conversations did occur, men were far more likely to get screened.