Media and Press

The world's largest prostate cancer Screening organization releases a statement opposing THE USPSTF recommendations on prostate canCer screening

  

For Immediate Release: October 18, 2011

Contact:        Wendy Poage

"The Prostate Conditions Education Council (PCEC) opposes the draft recommendations prepared by the U. S. Preventive Service Task Force (USPSTF) on the use of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test for prostate cancer early detection. 

The PCEC believes that the USPSTF recommendations will do more harm than good. The proposed guidelines will result in an increase in the mortality rate from prostate cancer, which will be most apparent in those at high risk, including African American men.

The PCEC endorses the use of PSA, in conjunction with a DRE, as the best tool widely available today for the early detection prostate cancer. When interpreted appropriately, the PSA test provides valuable information for risk assessment, diagnosis, monitoring and treatment decisions for prostate cancer patients and physicians. 

The PCEC also recognizes the importance of the development of new prostate cancer biomarkers that are more sensitive and specific and encourages the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to recognize the time sensitive needs for review of the biomarkers currently submitted and those that will be submitted in the future.

It is the belief of the PCEC that Knowledge is Power.  The screening and early detection of prostate cancer afford men a great number of treatment options for their disease, one of which is watchful waiting.  It is our belief that the men and their loved ones have not only the fundamental right to be informed of a disease while it is survivable but also have the capacity to make intelligent choices when presented with information on the positive and negative aspects of screening, diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer.  We agree with the USPSTF that many men are over-treated for prostate cancer and that we should separate diagnosis of the disease from treatment through informed decision making discussions with physicians."

About Prostate Conditions Education Council

A national organization committed to men’s health, the Prostate Conditions Education Council (PCEC) is the nation’s leading resource for information on prostate health.  The PCEC is dedicated to saving lives through awareness and the education of men, the women in their lives, as well as the medical community about prostate cancer prevalence, the importance of early detection, and available treatment options, as well as other men’s health issues.  The Council – comprised of a consortium of leading physicians, health educators, scientists and prostate cancer advocates – aims to conduct nation wide screenings for men and perform research that will aid in the detection and treatment of prostate conditions.

PCEC organizes hundreds of free or low-cost screening sites annually for more than 125,000 men across the United States and internationally.  To date, the program has resulted in over 5 million screenings.

  

 

PROSTATE CONDITIONS EDUCATION COUNCIL OPPOSES U.S. PREVENTATIVE SERVICES TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATION

The Prostate Conditions Education Council (PCEC) – a national organization committed to men’s health and a leader in prostate cancer screening – today announced it strongly opposes the newly released recommendations from the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF). The draft guidance recommends against prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening for prostate cancer.

PCEC believes that until a more accurate and reliable diagnostic tool exists, the Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test and Digital Rectal Exam (DRE) remain the safest routes to detecting the disease in its earliest stages – when it’s most treatable. The PSA test is one of the only tools men have to detect the second leading cause of cancer death among American men, and the USPSTF recommendations could limit access and wide-spread screening. 

“As an organization that helps screen thousands of men annually and more than five million in the last 22 years, we have an up-close perspective: listening to men’s questions, educating them about the current screening tools and hearing about stories of survival,” said Wendy Poage, president of the Prostate Conditions Education Council. “Mortality rates have decreased with the onset of PSA screening and we cannot slip back to an era where all men were diagnosed with advanced disease because no screening was available. While we applaud USPSTF for bringing this issue to a national discussion, we believe that the pendulum has moved too far and that corrections need to be made to help patients navigate this important public health issue.”

 PCEC’s specific recommendations include:

Separating Diagnosis Issue From Treatment Decision Making

PCEC believes that the treatment decision making process should be the key area of focus for debate, not the issue of screening. Over-treatment of prostate conditions should be addressed through greater doctor-patient communication regarding appropriate diagnostic options and treatments to determine the right action based on the patient.

Increasing Access to Advanced Diagnostic Technology

New technologies including the Transperineal 3D Mapping Biopsy are allowing physicians to better understand the stage and gravity of the cancer in order to make more informed treatment decisions.  Experts agree that prostate staging biopsies will yield better understanding of the extent and aggressiveness of the disease in patients. This information allows physicians to develop individualized treatment plans for patients. 

Expedite U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Review of New Diagnostics

The FDA should encourage the development of new diagnostic and screening tools by expediting review of all promising prostate cancer diagnostic tests. The FDA is currently reviewing the Prostate Health Index which may provide additional context to patients risk for an aggressive form of cancer.

Encourage a Focus on Men’s Overall Health

Many prostate screening locations also offer testing for cholesterol and testosterone, as many factors play into overall men’s health awareness and a man’s risk for prostate cancer.  PCEC screening sites are equipped with a variety of free informational materials that help guide men in improving their overall health condition.

About Prostate Conditions Education Council

A national organization committed to men’s health, the Prostate Conditions Education Council (PCEC) is the nation’s leading resource for information on prostate health.  The PCEC is dedicated to saving lives through awareness and the education of men, the women in their lives, as well as the medical community about prostate cancer prevalence, the importance of early detection, and available treatment options, as well as other men’s health issues.  The Council – comprised of a consortium of leading physicians, health educators, scientists and prostate cancer advocates – aims to conduct nation wide screenings for men and perform research that will aid in the detection and treatment of prostate conditions.  More information is available at www.prostateconditions.org.

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PROSTATE CANCER COUNCIL ENCOURAGES MEN’S HEALTH PRACTICES AT SCREENING SITES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY

Contact:            Wendy Poage

Prostate Conditions Education Council Hosts 22^nd Annual Awareness Week, September 18-24;  Program Prompts New International Initiative

As the most common cancer and second leading cause of cancer death among American men, it’s important to be aware of the resources currently available to detect prostate cancer.  While experts continue to explore the benefits of prostate cancer screenings, the Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test and Digital Rectal Exam (DRE) remain the safest routes to detecting the disease in its earliest stages – when it’s most treatable.  

This year the Prostate Conditions Education Council (PCEC) – a national organization committed to men’s health and a leader in prostate cancer screening – continues its 22-year tradition of coordinating free or low-cost screenings to encourage men to protect their health as part of its national Prostate Cancer Awareness Week (PCAW).  This year’s PCAW takes place between September 18-24 with screenings available at hundreds of sites across the country.  Men can find the sites by visiting http://www.prostateconditions.org/screening-site-finder or calling 866-4PROST8.

“In many men, prostate cancer is an aggressive disease that is most successfully treated when it is detected early on,” said Dr. E. David Crawford, Head of the Urologic Oncology Department at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and Founder/Chairman of the PCEC.  “As the research community explores various methods to detecting the disease, I continue to encourage men to play an active role in their health by looking to those trusted sources of prostate cancer testing – the PSA and DRE.”    

During PCAW, men are offered a baseline PSA blood test and a DRE administered by a trained professional.  Many screening locations also offer testing for cholesterol and testosterone, as many factors play into overall men’s health awareness and a man’s risk for prostate cancer.  PCEC recommends that after 35 years of age, all men should work with their doctors to determine a screening schedule that is right for them. 

 Not only does PCEC encourage yearly screenings after the age of 35, but also overall health awareness to lessen the risk of prostate cancer.  Every year PCAW brings additional attention to the prevention and treatment of prostate cancer by dedicating “Six Days of Prostate Cancer” to key points for men to keep in mind as they pay attention to their health.  PCAW screening sites are also equipped with a variety of free informational materials that will help guide men in improving their overall health condition.

“PCEC is extremely proud of our commitment to improving men’s health,” said Wendy Poage, president of PCEC.  “Since the first PCAW in 1989, the program has helped to screen nearly 5 million men in the United States, and this number continues to grow both at home and internationally.” 

PCAW’s overwhelming success in the United States has not only helped to safeguard the lives of American men, but has also influenced prostate cancer detection initiatives abroad.  In fact, this year will mark the first prostate cancer screening event in Japan where free or low-cost screenings will be made available to more than 100 men at the Showa University Hospital in Tokyo, Japan.

“Japan is a country where prostate cancer incidents are on the rise, and screening rates are low.  It’s critical that we recognize the importance of early detection and the role that screening can play,” said Dr. Takashi Fukagai, coordinator of the prostate cancer screening at Japan’s Showa University Hospital.

About Prostate Cancer Awareness Week

The Prostate Conditions Education Council organizes hundreds of free or low-cost screening sites annually for more than 125,000 men across the United States and internationally.  To date, the program has resulted in nearly 5 million screenings.  To find a PCAW screening site near you and for more information on prostate cancer, please visit http://www.prostateconditions.org/screening-site-finder or call toll free 866-4PROST8.  You can also join in the conversation by searching for the Prostate Conditions Education Council on Facebook or 4prost8health on Twitter.   

About Prostate Conditions Education Council

A national organization committed to men’s health, the Prostate Conditions Education Council (PCEC) is the nation’s leading resource for information on prostate health.  The PCEC is dedicated to saving lives through awareness and the education of men, the women in their lives, as well as the medical community about prostate cancer prevalence, the importance of early detection, and available treatment options, as well as other men’s health issues.  The Council – comprised of a consortium of leading physicians, health educators, scientists and prostate cancer advocates – aims to conduct nation wide screenings for men and perform research that will aid in the detection and treatment of prostate conditions.  More information is available at www.prostateconditions.org. 

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PROSTATE MAPPING BIOPSY IMPACTING TREATMENT DECISIONS

Contact:            Wendy Poage

 

Latest Technique for Prostate Cancer Dianosis Decreases Need for Prostatectomy

The diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer (PCa) is currently undergoing a revolution similar to that seen over the past three decades with respect to the improvements made in breast cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment options.  The long-standing gold standard for PCa diagnosis is the Transrectal Ultrasound (TRUS) guided prostate needle biopsy.  While TRUS is still used to make an initial diagnosis, in recent years, the development of a staging prostate biopsy – the Transperineal 3D Mapping Biopsy – has been introduced, allowing physicians to better understand the stage and gravity of the cancer in order to make more informed treatment decisions. 

“We have been working hard to bring prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment to more advanced states.  Our approach follows similar efforts from  breast cancer patients and advocates, which have  led to the decline of radical mastectomies, an increase in research and better diagnostic test, treatment and surgical options,” said Dr. E. David Crawford, Chairman, Prostate Conditions Education Council and Professor of Urology and Radiation Oncology, University of Colorado.    

Experts agree that prostate staging biopsies will yield better understanding of the extent and aggressiveness of the disease in patients.  This information allows physicians to develop individualized treatment plans for patients.  “We expect to see a decline in the number of men who are undergoing unnecessary prostatectomies or radiotherapy,” said Dr. Crawford.  “This, coupled with new focalized treatments that are the equivalent of the ‘male lumpectomy’ should help us see an increase in positive outcomes for men diagnosed with the disease.”

Prostate Mapping Biopsy vs. TRUS

The TRUS needle biopsy is an outpatient surgical procedure in which a transrectal ultrasound is used to create an image of the prostate, allowing a physician to guide a small needle to take 6-12 samples of prostate tissue to test for abnormal cells and tissue.  For many years, it has been the definitive way to diagnose prostate cancer.  But under- and over- grading of the cancer is common.  This can lead to patients undergoing treatments that are unnecessarily invasive or being subjected to the risk of associated morbidities from other treatment methods.

The Prostate Staging Biopsies (PSB) Procedure is performed as an outpatient procedure under general anesthesia.  It allows physicians to create a three-dimensional image of the prostate, including the location of the cancer within the organ.  As PSB can better determine the size and location of the cancer, it allows patients and their physicians to more appropriately select a treatment option, including ongoing evaluation. 

In a recent study, 215 men underwent PSB.  Of those, only 38 chose to have radical prostatectomy, while the majority of the remaining men underwent targeted therapy and 44 elected to watch and wait.

No studies have reported a significant difference in the risks or complications between the two procedures. 

“The Prostate Cancer Staging procedure helped me to better understand the extent of my prostate cancer and to make a treatment decision based on more complete information than I otherwise would have had,” said patient Larry Biro.  “For me and my family, it was an invaluable tool that addressed many of the normally unanswered questions that men in my position have.” 

Prostate Cancer is the Second Leading Cause of Cancer Deaths in American Men; Enormous Economic Impact for Patients

Prostate cancer is the number two cause of cancer deaths in American men.  According to the National Cancer Institute, there were an estimated 217,730 new diagnoses and 32,050 deaths from prostate cancer in the United States in 2010.  One in six men over age 40 will develop prostate cancer.  It is typically diagnosed in men over the age 65, and African-American men are in the highest risk group. 

According to the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. expenditure for prostate cancer care was expected to be $12 billion, making it the fifth most costly type of cancer behind breast ($16.5B), colorectal ($14.14B), lymphoma ($12.14B) and lung ($12.12B) cancers.

About Prostate Conditions Education Council

A national organization committed to men’s health, the Prostate Conditions Education Council (PCEC) is the nation’s leading resource for information on prostate health.  The PCEC is dedicated to saving lives through awareness and the education of men, the women in their lives, as well as the medical community about prostate cancer prevalence, the importance of early detection, and available treatment options, as well as other men’s health issues.  The Council – comprised of a consortium of leading physicians, health educators, scientists and prostate cancer advocates – aims to conduct nation wide screenings for men and perform research that will aid in the detection and treatment of prostate conditions.  More information is available at www.prostateconditions.org.