by KYW's medical editor Dr. Brian McDonough

It is a hotly debated topic in medicine. The psa test - short for prostate specific antigen - can detect prostate cancer in its early stages, but this can lead to additional tests and in some cases it is slow growing and the testing can lead to worry.

Recently, the US Preventive Services Task Force looked at the psa test and recommended that doctors should stop routine prostate cancer screening of men over age 75 because they feel there is more evidence of harm than benefit. According to the task force, the benefits of treatment based on routine screening of this age group "are small to none."

However, treatment often causes "moderate-to-substantial harms," including erectile dysfunction and bladder control and bowel problems. The new guidance is the first update by the task force on prostate cancer screening since 2002.