Today, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) posted its prostate cancer screening final recommendation statement. The following letter was received by anyone who posted a public comment:

The USPSTF is committed to making the recommendations process clear and transparent and we are able to achieve that by keeping the public fully informed throughout the process. One of the ways we are doing this is providing an opportunity for public comment on draft recommendation statements. The draft recommendation statement for screening for prostate cancer was posted online for public comment from October 11 to December 13, 2011. The USPSTF reviewed and considered the public comments received when the draft recommendation statement was posted. The final recommendation statement includes a section called “Response to Public Comments,” which addresses the comment process and common themes from the public feedback received. To view the final recommendation statement and the evidence reports, click here. A fact sheet that explains the final recommendation statement in plain language is available here.

If you have questions, need additional information, or would like to speak with someone about the USPSTF, contact the USPSTF Coordinator at coordinator@uspstf.net.

Sincerely,

Virginia Moyer, MD, MPH
Chair, U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

Malecare, along with many other of the prostate cancer advocacy groups have worked to continence the USPSTF not to lower the rating for to a D which they have done.

Thanks to this misguided action many more men will not find out that they have prostate cancer until they have advanced prostate cancer. As we all know men with advanced prostate cancer cannot be cured. Today is the beginning of a bad next chapter for men in the United States.

Joel T. Nowak, M.A., M.S.W.