CPCC SCREENING GUIDELINES

At the last full board meeting of CPCC the board endorsed the following Prostate Cancer screening guidelines adopted by the NASPCC in Chicago. November 7, 2005 “The National Alliance of State Prostate Cancer Coalitions (NASPCC) announced today more stringent guidelines for early prostate cancer detection. They are as follows: NASPCC supports the early detection of prostate cancer in recommending that, beginning at age 40 (35 for high-risk men, including African-American men and those with a definite or indeterminate family history of prostate cancer), men obtain a baseline PSA in combination with a DRE, and thereafter a PSA and DRE on an annual basis. PSA readings which increase over time may be more important than the PSA number of one score. Regular discussions about the findings of these tests need to be discussed between a man and his physician at every annual check-up. Men are responsible to know and keep track of their own PSA scores.” This year, more than 230,000 men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, said Merel Grey Nissenberg, NASPCC President. NASPCC supports any measure that encourages men to get tested earlier and more often, so that they can live longer and have a better quality of life. NASPCC is the central resource center through which communications pass regarding prostate cancer-related policy, including best practices, funding resources and other strategic ideas. The NASPCC was born out of a need and desire to connect all of the networks of prostate cancer advocates across the nation, in order to create a stronger voice on behalf of all prostate cancer patients and their loved ones, according to Ms. Nissenberg.

She reminded the group that we must streamline local and state groups efforts for more effective prostate cancer advocacy, and additionally serve as a consortium to both improve the quality of life and save lives across the nation.