In the United States where I practice, there remains a difference of opinion between various groups. On one side the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends against prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-based screening for prostate cancer. This recommendation was based on two large trials. On the other side the American Urology Association differs and believes that the USPSTF interpretation of the data is flawed and the fact that another landmark study was not included is relevant. I have been monitoring PSAs routinely for the past 13 years and am confident that I have positively impacted a number of individuals by doing so. At the very least, I think that primary care physicians should at least have a discussion with patients and let them be an active participant in their health care. The information is not harmful, it is what is potentially done with that information that is relevant. And we have specialists in order to help people deal with that information.

We all have a certain amount of grains of sand in each of our hourglasses. We just never know how many any of us have. Stay positive and always try to find the joy in the journey.

-Mark