Despite the evidence, why do people continue to ask for PSA screening? “One factor in the popularity of PSA testing is that it is backed by powerful commercial forces which assiduously promote its benefits. One prominent campaigning group, Us Too! International – which is based in the USA with branches in other countries, including several in the UK – describes itself as a ‘grassroots’ organisation set up by prostate cancer survivors. A glance at its website reveals that it is ‘supported by an unrestricted educational grant’ from Abbott Oncology, a pharmaceutical company that produces, not only PSA testing kits, but a range of drugs for prostate cancer. Given that Us Too! derives 95 per cent of its income from the pharmaceutical industry it is not surprising to find that it recommends annual PSA tests for men.”
