Prostate Cancer Community Responds To New Recommendation For Prostate Cancer Testing

LINTHICUM, Md., April 17, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, a coalition of 16 physician and patient groups responded to the Draft Recommendation Statement on Prostate Cancer Screening issued by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), commending the Task Force for its emphasis on shared decision-making and the transparent, inclusive process used to develop these recommendations.

With regard to shared decision-making, the new USPSTF draft recommendation statement aligns with recommendations from most major physician groups, including the American Cancer Society, American College of Physicians, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the American Urological Association (AUA) and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. 

The groups also applauded the USPSTF for soliciting input from the prostate cancer community and other stakeholders during the recommendation development process, which included public comment periods for its research plan and inviting urologists and other stakeholders to provide feedback on the evidence report that informed the recommendations. In its comments on the research plan, the groups stressed the need for shared decision-making relative to prostate cancer screening and urged the Task Force to emphasize this in its guidance.

The steps made by the Task Force to be more open and transparent during this recommendation process are in line with the changes that Representatives Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Bobby Rush (D-IL) seek to codify in law with H.R. 539, the USPSTF Transparency and Accountability Act. While the undersigned groups laud the Task Force on its improved efforts, this recent draft recommendation – and the process used to get to it – illustrates how the USPSTF, specialists, patients and the medical community as a whole must work together to develop recommendations that better reflect the clinical and research landscapes. The legislation is needed to ensure transparency and regular input in the process from interested stakeholders and specialists with appropriate expertise.

About the coalition: Groups supporting this statement include the American Urological Association, American Association of Clinical Urologists, Large Urology Group Practice Association, Men's Health Network, Prostate Conditions Education Council, Prostate Health Education Network, Prostate Net, R. Frank Jones Urological Society, Sexual Medicine Society of North America, Society of Academic Urologists, Society of Government Service Urologists, Society of Urologic Nurses and Associates, Society of Urologic Oncology, Society of Women in Urology, Urological Association of Physician Assistants, and ZERO –The End of Prostate Cancer

View statements from:

• American Association of Clinical Urologists
• American Urological Association
• Men's Health Network
• Prostate Conditions Education Council
• Prostate Health Education Network
• Society of Urologic Oncology
• ZERO –The End of Prostate Cancer

For more information about this statement, please contact:

AUA: Wendy Isett, 410-689-3789 or [email protected]

SOURCE American Urological Association

Related Links

http://www.AUAnet.org