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This article is from
Upfront
March 1999

Upfront
ACS's Gabriel Feldman's Statement on Prostate Cancer Screening Policy

March 8, 1999, New York. Dr. Gabriel Feldman M.D. is the national director of prostate and colorectal cancer control at the American Cancer Society. In response to consternation because of New York Times and ABC-TV reports on the PSA test and prostate cancer screening and early detection, Dr. Feldman said: "As your readers are aware, the media tend to be interested in a 'story,' which means something that is controversial."
     "The American Cancer Society," Dr. Feldman says, "is not against screening for prostate cancer." He says "ACS is not trying to dissuade or prevent men from being screened or saying that prostate cancer screening doesn't makes sense for many men." Here in full is the statement he sent by E-mail:

From: "Gabriel Feldman"
To: [email protected]
Copies to: "Wendi Klevan"
Date sent: Mon, 8 Mar 1999 16:14:01 -0500
Subject: Prostate cancer screening

I am the director of prostate cancer control at the American Cancer Society. Your readers have probably been driven to all sorts of levels of confusion and consternation because of recent media coverage of prostate cancer screening. As your readers are aware, the media tend to be interested in a "story", which means something that is controversial.
     The American Cancer Society is NOT against screening for prostate cancer. ACS is not trying to dissuade or prevent men from being screened or saying that prostate cancer screening doesn't makes sense for many men.
     We do not support mass screening for this disease based on the evidence in 1999. Mass screening refers to screening men in malls or off the street without discussing some basics about the tests' consequences first. No scientific group in the country supports mass screening for prostate cancer.
     In 1997, recognizing emerging data on the issue of prostate cancer screening, the ACS adjusted its guidelines to say that men should get some basic info on prostate cancer when deciding on screening since the studies proving a survival benefit hadn't been completed yet. They are still underway
     The ACS wants all health care providers to offer testing to all appropriate men. If ACS were against screening, why would we bother recommending that all appropriate men be offered the test? Perhaps this confuses many men since they have never heard the ACS take such a reserved approach. Still, I would invite your readers to survey other organizations and find out what the internists, family physician, NCI, CDC and every other medical group in the world is saying about prostate cancer screening
     Until the studies are in and since the screening has only been around for about 10 years, the AUA and ACS have both agreed that mass screening is inappropriate. That's the only quote out of a 40 minute interview that was used. Obviously, politicians have it a lot rougher than we realize and that's why they hate sound bites. I hope your readers will get the facts about what the AUA and ACS are saying, and I think they'll certainly understand better why we have to say it.

ACS says on their site and in their literature: "The American Cancer Society recommends that both prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test and digital rectal examination (DRE) should be offered annually, beginning at age 50 years, to men who have at least a 10-year life expectancy, and to younger men who are at high risk."

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