Prostate Cancer Funds Slashed in California

California budget cuts are forcing shutdown of the state's first-in-the-nation prostate cancer program for low-income men who lack health insurance, according to the Los Angeles Times Feb 6.

Dr. Mark S. Litwin, head of the IMPACT program — Improving Access, Counseling and Treatment for Californians with Prostate Cancer — said he was facing "a horrible ethical quandary." "We're triaging patients. I didn't sign up to play God," Litwin said. "The bottom line for me is I've got guys dying."

The phase-out of the program is part of a $1.1-billion wave of state budget cuts initiated by former Gov. Gray Davis and adopted by his successor, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

More than 320 patients have been left "in limbo." The day after Christmas, state health officials ordered doctors at the program, based at UCLA Medical Center, to stop enrolling new patients. Since then, more than 20 men diagnosed with prostate cancer have been told they cannot receive state-paid treatment for their disease. Their names have been placed on a waiting list in case the policy changes.

One man who was denied entry to the UCLA program died last week in Los Angeles of advanced prostate cancer, LA Times, reports, adding "is unclear how much longer he might have survived had he gained admission."

posted February 18, 2004

Living With Prostate Cancer

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Jonathan Baker

A doctor told him he was too young for prostate cancer.

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