>>Let's agree to disagree:
>>for me more information still is good if the treatment still is NOT following every minute scent - and no hypochondriac tendencies are awakened. When first questionable bodily problems occur having long term PSA values to look at and compare with current values might come in handy.

Definitely true that PSA rising over time could be an indicator to act. But also consider that ! PSA == Prostate cancer: inflammation or benign prostatic hypertrophy can cause a rise as well. IOW the test is of most value when not raised. When raised or rising, it could mean cancer but it might not mean much at all. Your physician can examine your prostate with their finger and if it's craggy or fixed or there's a mass or other abnormality, they're more likely to want to act rather than pursuing "masterly inactivity" which is the other option- most men go for more frequent PSA and rectal exams to see whether there's a trend. Of the subset that proceeds to biopsy, still only about 25 percent has prostate cancer. Current recommendation is for detailed counseling before the test gets done, since a raised level creates stress and exposure to significant complications.

>>Considering Tamar: she received info previous generations did not get due to current diagnostic equipment being better. Did motivate her to read up on that particular situation but did not move her into any unneccessary treatment. Reading up might not happened in the previous generation, but getting a clearer picture about ones own body is IMO worth the time - but I am the nosy type and not afraid to read up in new areas.

Pretty good track record IMO in Tamars case for better info, even if not data ;-)
Similar to perhaps giving more attention to problems known to have happened in the previous generation.