“Facing these decisions can be difficult, and it’s even harder for men who try to make them alone,” said Ralph B. Vance, MD, FACP, national volunteer president of the American Cancer Society. “Providing patients with the latest testing and treatment information based on years of research helps men take a more active role in their own health care and guides them through the decision-making process.”

    The American Cancer Society encourages all men to:

· Get as much information about prostate health as they can.

· Talk with their doctor to determine their personal risk for prostate
cancer.

· Understand all available testing and treatment options so they can make
informed decisions.

· Contact the American Cancer Society for information about all aspects of
prostate cancer 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

    Many African American men don’t realize they are at higher risk for prostate cancer and are twice as likely to die from the disease as other American men. And for all men, age and family history are risk factors. The American Cancer Society estimates more than 29,000 men in the United States will die from the disease this year – 1,880 in New York–accounting for approximately 10 percent of all male cancer-related deaths.

    That’s why the American Cancer Society strongly urges universal access to and education about prostate screening options. The Society recommends both the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test and digital rectal exam (DRE) for men who decide to be tested. Once diagnosed, the prognosis for any prostate cancer patient depends on the extent of the cancer, the course of treatment selected and other individual factors.

    In August 2000, the American Cancer Society updated its prostate cancer early detection guidelines. Changes to the guidelines were based on consensus reached by a panel of leading medical experts, scientists, advocates and interested members of the public who conducted a comprehensive review of current research. As more men were tested and the implications of testing and treatment became more widely studied, the need for men to understand the debate on prostate cancer testing and treatment became apparent.

    The current American Cancer Society guidelines are recommendations, not rules. Written for both doctors and the public, the guidelines are flexible in order to accommodate individual medical and personal needs, and are subject to revision based on new research evidence. They are:

· Men 50 and older should be offered early detection tests (PSA and DRE)
annually.

· Men at high risk (family history, African Americans) should begin early
detection testing (PSA and DRE) at age 45.

· Prior to testing, all men should be provided with information about the
benefits and limitations of testing.

    “Given the implications of early detection testing, the American Cancer Society encourages men to consider it carefully,” said Jean LePere, American Cancer Society director of healthcare systems and worksite= initiatives. “Some men who get tested may benefit from early detection and treatment, thereby living longer, but other men may have complications from treatment without achieving any significant benefit. The American Cancer Society also believes it is reasonable to caution medical professionals that screening men with less than a 10-year life expectancy may be unnecessary.”

    In addition to funding research and recommending screening guidelines, the American Cancer Society provides Man to Man, a confidential, educational and support program that enables prostate cancer survivors to
get the information they need to resume active, productive lives.  Group programs and individual volunteers support, as well as provide non-medical information on treatment options and side effects. Man to Man meetings are held in Westchester County once a month, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Northern Westchester Hospital, 400 East Main Street, Mount Kisco, facilitated by Jeffrey Gershen. For further information regarding dates of
the meetings, and to register, please call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345.