The prostate time bomb.

Prostate cancer cases are projected to increase significantly over the next 15 years, leading to a rise in deaths if no action is taken. However, advancements in diagnostic tools have improved the ability to identify severe prostate cancers earlier and more accurately, allowing for more informed decision-making and reducing the likelihood of death from the condition. The prostate doubles in size during puberty and continues to grow throughout a man's life, leading to an enlarged but noncancerous gland called benign prostatic hyperplasia. While the majority of prostate cancers are indolent and unlikely to cause death, the condition is still extremely dangerous, with around 1.4 million people diagnosed and a quarter of them dying from it each year. The predicted surge in cases is due to an expanding and aging global population, and while prevention may not be possible, early detection and treatment are crucial for improving outcomes. Screening for prostate cancer has historically been hit-or-miss, with PSA testing producing false positives and detecting indolent cancers that would not have caused harm. However, repeated PSA testing has been shown to reduce mortality rates, and advancements in PSA testing, such as MRI scans and active surveillance, have minimized the risks of overdiagnosis and overtreatment. The US Preventative Services Task Force and the European Union have changed their recommendations on PSA testing, and ongoing research is further improving diagnostic accuracy. Genetic testing is also becoming a part of prostate testing, and saliva screening and artificial intelligence are promising innovations in early detection. With these advancements [Extracted from the article]