Advocate

From time to time, we adcocate for prostate cancer research and health policy as related to prostate cancer issues. We'll need your help in stimulating a grass roots campaign. Stay tuned ...

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U.S. Congressman, click here.

U.S. Senator, click here.

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State Senator, click here.

APCF Rejects USPSTF Recommendation

The Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation and the National Alliance of State Prostate Cancer Coalitions emphatically reject the proposed “D” prostate cancer recommendation of the USPSTF.

There’s a firestorm in the media following the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) ‘draft’ recommendation against prostate cancer screening with the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test. The USPSTF is made up of pediatricians, gynecologists, family practitioners and internists – no cancer specialists.

Because the cancer begins on the prostate’s outer edges, it produces no symptoms until it is far advanced and too late to cure. An apparently healthy man may have a steadily climbing PSA. The USPSTF recommendation will deny a man the opportunity for diagnosis and treatment options.

The recommendation will be disproportionately detrimental to high-risk men including African-American men who are more likely to be diagnosed with PC and much more likely to die of it. The action will unnecessarily increase healthcare disparities.

Side effects of prostate cancer treatment are greatly diminished with expert surgeons and ongoing improvements in treatment.

If you would like to express your opinion, the USPSTF is accepting comments here or your can address your letter to:

Dr. Robert Cosby

c/o USPSTF

540 Gaither Road

Rockville, MD 20850

Deadline for comments is November 8, 2011, 4 PM CST

To read the draft, click here.

To comment, click here.

To contact your Senator, click here.

To contact your Congressman, click here.