FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 
October 22, 2009

CONTACT:
Linwood Norman
Office:    202-303-3125
Cell:       202-664-4338
Linwood@ZeroCancer.org

Claims by American Cancer Society About PSA Testing For Prostate Cancer Are a Disservice to All Men 

ZERO – The Project to End Prostate Cancer denounces assertions by the American Cancer Society that men should not take advantage of early detection for prostate cancer because the benefits of doing so are “exaggerated.” 

The PSA test, the most prevalent method to detect prostate cancer, has saved the lives of thousands of men with rapidly growing tumors.  Prostate cancer testing, along with advances in treatment, has led to a 34 percent reduction in deaths since 1994. 

“How can the American Cancer Society claim to be ‘The Official Sponsor of Birthdays’ when the organization’s flip-flop on cancer screenings simply condemns more men to their funerals?” asks ZERO’s Chief Executive Officer Skip Lockwood. 

“No one disputes the PSA test cannot distinguish slow-growing tumors from rapidly growing ones, yet this failure to denote the pussycats from the tigers is not really the main issue.  Until a better diagnostic test is introduced, the PSA test is still the only short-term solution for early diagnosis and prompt treatment. 

“Prostate cancer is the second most deadly cancer among men.  Ask anyone whose life depended on taking the PSA test.  They will say it’s better to be tested than to roam in the dark and hope you won’t get this disease.” 

ZERO’s announcement is made in response to assertions by the ACS medical director, Dr. Otis Brawley, that the benefits of prostate cancer screening are exaggerated. 

“Whatever Dr. Brawley’s agenda is with regard to making such claims is his alone to explain,” added Lockwood. 

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