prostate-report.org

Prostate cancer prognosis worse in obese men

Prostate cancer diagnosis tends to be delayed and surgical treatment more difficult in obese men than in lean men, according to two studies published Friday.
 
The primary reason for the later diagnosis, and consequently poorer prognosis, seems to be that the PSA test used to screen for prostate cancer is “biased” against obese men, according to researchers.

The problem, they explain, may stem from obese men’s larger blood volume, which dilutes their PSA levels. High blood levels of PSA — or prostate specific antigen - can signal the presence of a prostate tumor.