Men's Health Network Responds to New Prostate Cancer Screening Recommendations

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Washington, DC - Oct. 11, 2011

Men's Health Network (MHN) is very concerned about the U.S. Preventive Services

Task Force (USPSTF) draft recommendations on the use of prostate-specific

antigen (PSA) testing in the early detection of prostate cancer.

On Friday, the USPSTF released draft recommendations downgrading PSA testing to

" D " , recommending against the use of PSA testing in healthy men that " do not

have symptoms that are highly suspicious for prostate cancer. " A " D " grade also

means that there is moderate or high certainty that the service has no net

benefit, or that the harms outweigh the benefits.

This is particularly disturbing since the new health legislation, the Affordable

Care Act (ACA) requires group and individual health plans to cover without

cost-sharing only those preventive services rated A and B by the USPSTF.

Every man should be entitled to an informed discussion with his physician about

whether PSA testing is appropriate for him. PSA testing, when properly

translated, can be an important tool in helping to diagnose prostate cancer.

More education is needed to let men know that not all prostate cancers are

aggressive and that a man can choose to treat or utilize active surveillance,

but a man has a right to know if he has cancer and to make an informed decision

on how to move forward.

" We know that prostate cancer deaths have dropped as a result of awareness and

prostate cancer screening. The decision of the panel sends the wrong message to

men whose lives might now be in danger because they will be discouraged from

getting screened. This especially puts African-American men, men exposed to

Agent Orange, and men with a family history, all of whom are at increased risk

of developing prostate cancer and dying from the disease, in great danger, "

stated Ana Fadich, Director of Programs at MHN.

Berger, PhD, Executive Director of the Veteran's Health Council

explained, " Veterans exposed to Agent Orange are at least twice as likely to

develop prostate cancer, their recurrence rates are higher, and recurring

cancers are more aggressive. PSA testing in combination with a digital rectal

exam is the best method we currently have of catching prostate cancers in their

earliest stages. "

We are hopeful about the promise of new and better biomarkers that are in the

pipeline to help accurately diagnose and discern between aggressive and indolent

prostate cancers. Thanks to research much progress has been made on this front,

but until new screening and detection methods are put into practice we will

continue to support the use of the PSA test as a screening tool.

About Men's Health Network

MHN is a national non-profit organization whose mission is to reach men and

their families where they live, work, play, and pray with health prevention

messages and tools, screening programs, educational materials, advocacy

opportunities and patient navigation. For more information, please visit

www.menshealthnetwork.org .

SOURCE Men's Health Network

http://www.menshealthnetwork.org