Moreover, cancer treatment often carries serious side effects – including urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction, and, in those who undergo radiation, inflammation of the lower rectum or bladder, as well as underreported effects like fecal incontinence – that can negatively affect patients’ quality of life. Given that many patients diagnosed with prostate cancer as a result of the PSA test would never suffer any symptoms, such consequences are difficult to justify.
此外，癌症治疗通常会导致严重的副作用——包括尿失禁、勃起功能障碍、（接受化疗的病患的）低位直肠和膀胱炎症以及大便失禁等被低估的副作用——这些副作用会极大影响患者的生活质量。由于许多因PSA测试而被诊断为前列腺癌的患者原本不会出现任何症状，因此筛查的必要性很难证实。