This letter is in response to the Nov. 17 article titled “Prostate cancer: To test or not to test.”

Based on my personal experience, I do not understand why yearly PSA (Prostate-specific antigen) screening is not recommended for men. In 1996, several months after my 60th birthday, I had my annual physical. My PSA number was 30 percent higher than the previous year. PSA is a simple blood test that detects diseases of the Prostate, one of which is cancer. A biopsy confirmed I had prostate cancer. After conferring with an oncologist and a radiologist; it was determined my cancer was contained, so I had my prostate surgically removed. Since then, my annual physicals show I am cancer free.

My advice to every man over 50, or over 40 if you have prostate cancer in the family — have an annual physical that includes a PSA blood test. Know your PSA and track it. It is an easy marker for each of us to record. Do not rely solely on your doctor for detection. Modern medicine makes it easier for each of us to take charge and be responsible for our own health.

Roger Winter

Renton