Urologists Support a Man's Right to Appropriate Prostate Cancer Screening

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., May 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Large Urology Group Practice Association (LUGPA), representing more than 2,000 urologists nationwide, supports the rights of men to access appropriate prostate cancer screening.

New guidelines released by the American Urological Association include specific recommendations for screening men between the ages of 55 and 69, as well as appropriateness criteria for younger and older men based on risk factors and life expectancy.

"Every man has a right to make informed decisions regarding his own healthcare, and we encourage men to talk with their doctor to determine whether screening is appropriate for them," said Dr. Deepak A. Kapoor, President of LUGPA and Chairman and CEO of Integrated Medical Professionals, PLLC.

Statistics show that since the advent of widespread PSA testing in the early to mid-1990s, the 10 year survival for prostate cancer has increased from 53 to over 97 percent; simultaneously, the death rate from prostate cancer in the U.S. has decreased by nearly 40 percent. During that interval the incidence of prostate cancer has been virtually unchanged.

"We support clinical decision making customized to the needs of the individual patient," said Kapoor. "A nuanced approach to prostate cancer screening is far more appropriate than banning access to PSA testing for all men.  We must preserve the life-saving strides we have made by targeting screening to where it will do the most good."

About LUGPA
LUGPA represents 121 large urology group practices in the United States, with more than 2,000 physicians who make up more than 20 percent of the nation's practicing urologists. LUGPA and its member practices are committed to best practices, research, data collection, and benchmarking to promote quality clinical outcomes. For more information, visit lugpa.org for more information.

SOURCE Large Urology Group Practice Association

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