Dana Wilbourn said he understands new guidelines from the American Cancer Society that emphasize the limits of prostate cancer screenings.
But the 57-year-old retiree from East Brainerd, who has prostate cancer, said that, in his case, the blood test offered a critical warning sign.
At age 50, a routine prostate-specific antigen — or PSA — test revealed he had slightly elevated levels of a protein produced by the prostate, which can indicate a simple infection or the presence of cancer. In subsequent readings, the level only grew, leading to a biopsy and a diagnosis of cancer at age 52.
Though he is still battling the disease even after prostate removal surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, Mr. Wilbourn said he’s thankful the cancer was caught in 2004.
“If we had just started talking about prostate cancer instead of just started testing for it when I was 50, then I could have been in more trouble than I am now,” he said.