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Dear Screening Participant,
Recently, there has been a lot of discussion around the value of prostate cancer screening in the news. As someone who has participated in prostate cancer screening in the past through our Prostate Cancer Awareness Week screening program, we encourage you to continue to assess your risk for prostate cancer by getting screened.
Early detection and screening saves lives.
Currently, there is no way to detect prostate cancer except through screening, which includes a Digital Rectal Exam (DRE) and/or a Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test. While not perfect, prostate cancer screening is a valuable tool to assist in the diagnosis of prostate cancer, as well as an enlarged prostate. In fact, all diagnoses of prostate cancer began with a DRE and/or PSA test. Additionally, since the Prostate-Specific Antigen test was made available, we have seen a decrease in deaths attributed to prostate cancer, as well as the number of men diagnosed with advanced disease.
Today, our Council of world renowned urologists, oncologists and other prostate cancer specialists recommend a baseline prostate health assessment, including PSA and DRE, for all men at 40 years of age and at 35 for men at high risk (including those with a family history of prostate cancer and African-American men). Based on this assessment:
· Men with a PSA less than 1ng/ml should begin annual screening starting at age 50
· Men with a PSA greater than 1ng/ml should discuss additional testing and screening with their doctor. The Council recommends annual screenings for these men
However, the Council does not advocate for screenings if a man's life expectancy is less than 10 years.
Ultimately, we encourage you to "Choose to Know - and Know to Choose." This means you should choose to know your PSA values, just as you would your cholesterol, and know that there are many choices and variables in determining whether you need a biopsy and subsequent treatment if cancer is found. Additionally, we encourage you to speak with your doctor about the benefits, limitations and risks associated with prostate cancer screening and diagnosis.
For more information on prostate cancer screening, please visit www.prostateconditions.org.
Sincerely,
E. David Crawford, MD
Chairman
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| PROSTATE CANCER SCREENING GUIDELINES
WHAT THE EXPERT COUNCIL RECOMMEND ON SCREENING
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The Prostate Conditions Education Council (PCEC) encourages men to "Choose to Know - and Know to Choose." This means they should choose to know their PSA values, just as they would their cholesterol, and know that there are many choices and variables in determining if they need a biopsy and subsequent treatment if cancer is found. The organization recommends a baseline prostate health assessment, including PSA and digital rectal exam (DRE), for all men at 40 years of age and at 35 for men at high risk (including those with a family history of prostate cancer and African-American men). Based on this assessment, men with a PSA less than 1ng/ml should begin annual screening starting at age 50. Those who have a PSA greater than 1ng/ml should discuss additional testing and screening with their doctor. The PCEC recommends annual screenings for these men. However, the PCEC does not advocate for screenings if a man's life expectancy is less than 10 years.
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Prostate Conditions Education Council
7009 S. Potomac Street, Suite 125
Centennial, CO 80112
1-866-4PROST8
303-316-4685office - 303-320-3835fax
www.prostateconditions.org
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PCAW 2009
Sept. 20-26
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| Mark you calendars
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Read the Bloomberg News Article on Prostate
Research and Screening.
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Click Here
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National Council Members
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E. David Crawford, M.D.
University of Colorado
Chairman, PCEC
David G. McLeod, M.D Walter Reed Army
John Lynch, M.D.
Georgetown University
Frank Staggers, M.D.
NMA
Nelson N. Stone, M.D.
Mount Sinai
Daniel Petrylak, M.D
Columbia-Presbyterian
Mark Moyad, MD
University of Michigan
Mack Roach, MD
University of Calif. SF
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