Cooley Dickinson to Host Prostate-cancer Lecture on March 19

NORTHAMPTON — Prostate cancer is the most common cancer and the second-leading cause of cancer-related death in American men, but there is controversy about whether men should undergo routine screening to detect this disease. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening is often unreliable and may lead to false positives and unnecessary biopsies. In addition, prostate cancer might behave in a very slow fashion, such that many men can be followed with active surveillance versus aggressive treatment. Studies show that many men actually die with, but not from, the disease.

In “The Pros and Cons of Prostate-cancer Screening and Treatment,” Dr. Richard Lee, a hematologist/oncologist with the Mass General Cancer Center, will discuss the prostate-cancer screening controversy and contemporary management approaches. The community lecture will be held Thursday, March 19, from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Dakin Conference Room at Cooley Dickinson Hospital. The lecture is free and open to all. Seating is limited, and registration is required. To register online, visit cooley-dickinson.org/classes or call (888) 554-4234.

This free lecture is part of the Cooley Dickinson/Massachusetts General Hospital community-lecture series. Medical oncologist Dr. Sean Mullally, medical director of the Mass General Cancer Center at Cooley Dickinson Hospital, will be the Cooley Dickinson presenter.