HOUSE COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM HEARING ON PROSTATE CANCER 

As testimony is received at the hearing to explore prostate cancer screening, research and treatment before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. The Prostate Conditions Education Council (PCEC), the organization that founded and coordinates the nations largest prostate cancer screening program, confirms the importance of early detection and the need for patients to better understand the PSA test, and have complete information as they embark upon the decision to undergo prostate cancer early detection or screening.

"The main confusion today in prostate cancer centers around two key issues - when to be screened and what to do with the screening results," said Wendy Poage, President of the Prostate Conditions Education Council.  We must address these questions and encourage men to take appropriate steps to safe guard their health."

Too many men don't know their risk for developing prostate cancer, a disease that currently affects more than two million American men.  Prostate cancer is nearly 100 percent survivable when detected early, yet nearly 30,000 men are expected to die from the disease this year.  As there are often no signs or symptoms of the disease in its earliest stages - screening is crucial to saving lives.  Men need to understand that there are multiple risk factors for prostate cancer that should be taken into account, and the choice to be screened, biopsied, and to receive treatment for prostate cancer is a personal choice that should involve a discussion with their physicians.   While not perfect, the PSA test is the best tool, widely available today. The PCEC actively participates in research to help advance the PSA test, the development of new biomarkers and other technologies and expects that new and improved diagnostic tests for prostate cancer will be available later this year.

The Prostate Conditions Education Councils' world leading physicians encourage men to "Choose to Know - and Know to Choose."  This means men 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 or treatment.  The PCEC recommends a baseline prostate health assessment, including PSA and digital rectal examination (DRE), for all men at 35 years of age.  Based on this initial assessment, the PCEC recommends that men with a PSA less than 1ng/ml be screened again in five years and men with a PSA between 1-2ng/ml be screened every other year.  For those who have a PSA greater than 2ng/ml, the PCEC recommends annual screenings.  However, the PCEC does not advocate for screenings if a man's life expectancy is less than 10 years. 

Please contact us with any questions and visit our website at www.prostateconditions.org.