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.

APCF in the Profiles Series (Discovery Channel)

YouTube-Video

APCF Participates in the Department of Defense Prostate Cancer Research Program

Raul Blasini Cuttin' a Rug with Capt. Kaime, MD, Director CDMRP

The Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation nominates Consumer Reviewers to the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP), Department of Defense Prostate Cancer Research Project.

The role of the Consumer Reviewer is to represent the views of survivors, patients and family members. Each reviewer reads and evaluates research proposals for relevance to the consumer. They participate in peer review panel discussions at the same level as the scientists.

The APCF is proud and honored to be represented by Fred Allen, Raul Blasini, Charlie Crow, John DiPippa, Ed Moore and R.D. Saenz.

As a result of their participation, the APCF was invited to give a poster presentation at 2011 Innovative Minds in Prostate Cancer Today (IMPaCT) Program.

APCF Presentation at the Annual ZERO Summit to End Prostate Cancer Meeting

The 2011 Summit to End Prostate Cancer brought almost 200 advocates from around the country together to learn about advocating for prostate cancer.

The program included talks about current and emerging research, and various ways to advocate at community, state and national levels.September 20, 2011

APCF Executive Director, Helen Baldwin, gave a presentation, titled State Activism: Effective Advocacy at Home.

Fred Allen and Helen Baldwin at ZERO Annual Meeting

APCF Represented at the 7th Annual African American Prostate Cancer Disparity Summit

Representative Fred Allen participated in a panel discussion at the 7th Annual African American Prostate Cancer Disparity Summit, sponsored by the Prostate Health Education Network (PHEN) and part of the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference. Helen Baldwin, APCF Executive Director, also attended the meeting held at the U.S. Capitol and Washington Convention Center.

22nd and 23rd, 2011.

Fred Allen and Tom Farrington of PHEN

APCF at the Annual NASPCC Meeting

The 7th Annual Meeting of the National Alliance of State Prostate Cancer Coalitions (NASPCC), was held October 14-16, 2011 in Chicago and attended by Executive Director, Helen Baldwin. State organizations shared best practices and strategized advocacy related to the USPSTF draft recommendation against prostate cancer screening.