Large clinical trials change experts’ minds on prostate cancer screening

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Prostate cancer screening is now something to consider for men aged 55 to 69, according to the federal panel tasked with making recommendations for such preventative care options. In a finalized recommendation released Tuesday, the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) revealed that it has officially warmed to the screening-ever so slightly.

Back in 2012, the task force famously recommended against the then-common blood screening for elevated levels of PSA protein, which can indicate prostate cancer as well as other conditions. But, given new data from large, randomized clinical trials showing that routine screening can save a small number of lives, the USPSTF now says the scales have tipped in screening's favor.

The USPSTF doesn't offer an emphatic endorsement, but rather, a cautious consideration:

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