Men should have faith in a blood test for prostate cancer, despite its inventor describing it as little better than a coin toss in terms of diagnosis, urologists say.
Dr Richard Ablin developed the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test, but has criticised the widespread use of it for cancer screening.
But the president of the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand says the test, along with a rectal examination, remains the best warning for possible prostate cancer.
Dr David Malouf says though the test does not diagnose prostate cancer, it raises a red flag and identifies men who need to have that form of cancer excluded as a diagnosis.
Prostate Cancer Foundation president Barry Young says New Zealand doctors use the test correctly and conservatively, in contrast to some doctors overseas.
