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Have frank talk with doctor

Wed., March 4, 2015

While Dr. Zorba Paster (Feb. 24) is correct in saying that people should consider the pros and cons of medical testing, his example related to the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test is potentially misleading.

He refers to a 75-year-old male who had an elevated PSA, a series of biopsies and finally prostate surgery. At 75, it may have been medically appropriate to continue to wait.

However, I wonder what Paster would say if the man had been 54. Would he counsel against surgery? Statistics do offer some guidance, but each person’s case is unique. It is for this reason that a frank conversation with one’s doctor is the first step in treatment.

Ron Large

Spokane

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