Prostate Cancer 'Rally to Live' Briefing on Capitol Hill in Direct Response to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force's (USPSTF) Controversial Recommendation Against the Use of the PSA Test

Press and Congressional Briefing at 11:15 a.m. 

Rayburn Office Building (RM 2203)

BOSTON, Oct. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Prostate Health Education Network (PHEN), and members of the Prostate Cancer Roundtable will be joined by medical specialists and other leaders for a "Rally to Live" on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, November 1, 2011. The Rally is in response and opposition to the controversial U. S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendation against the use of the PSA test for early detection of prostate cancer.  Rally participants will visit the offices of select Congressional members to deliver materials and information beginning at 9:45 a.m. A briefing will be held for Congressional members, their staff and members of the press, beginning at 11:15 a.m., in the Rayburn House Office Building (Room 2203).

The Rally is a national effort to inform and educate the public, political and community leaders about the life saving benefits of the early detection of prostate cancer, and to mobilize support for the PSA test, especially for men who are at high risk and need it most. 

"African American men have the highest prostate cancer incidence and mortality rates for any racial or ethnic group in the United States. However, the randomized clinical trial evidence cited by the USPSTF against the PSA test did not include a statistically significant number of African Americans and possibly not even a significant number of men with a family history of the disease—another high risk group," said Thomas A. Farrington, president and founder, PHEN. "We will brief members of Congress on the impact that the USPSTF recommendation will have on these high risk men and ask that they stand in opposition to the recommendation."

Ultimately, the Rally intends to inform and educate Congressional leaders about this issue, so they can help to insure that the mortality rate for prostate cancer continues to decline.

Under the current medical practices the overall mortality rate for prostate cancer has declined by approximately 40% since the widespread use of the PSA test for early detection. National Cancer Institute models indicate that 45 to 70 percent of the mortality rate decline could be attributed to the impact of the PSA test.

Rally Details/Action Plan:

• The Rally will launch on November 1, 2011, at 9:45 a.m. in the Rayburn House Office Building (Room 2203);
• Medical experts, Congressional leaders and other advocates will speak out on the data and findings of the USPSTF;
• PHEN will submit direct comments to the USPSTF by their deadline of November 8, 2011;
• The Rally will continue throughout the USPSTF's review period, to advocate for policies and actions that will continue and even accelerate the reduction in the overall prostate cancer mortality rate.

"We urge everyone to attend this Rally, get involved, contact your Congressional members and help spread the word," said Farrington. "In view of the fact that there appears to be no scientific evidence presented by the USPSTF that its recommendation will not cause an increase in the risk of death and suffering by African Americans and other high risk men, we must take opposition to this recommendation today to save these men's lives."

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Media Contact:
Tomeeka Farrington
[email protected]
617-423-0040

About the Prostate Health Education Network:
www.prostatehealthed.org

PHEN's primary mission is to increase prostate health education and awareness among the men at highest risk for prostate cancer in the United States, African Americans. Saving lives through early detection and eliminating the African American prostate cancer disparity is PHEN's education and awareness goal. PHEN's mission also includes efforts to increase the overall support and resources to wage a war on prostate cancer that will eventually lead to a cure for the disease.

SOURCE Prostate Health Education Network