LUGPA Encourages Men to Learn Their Risk for Prostate Cancer

Chicago, IL, September 1, 2023 – During Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, LUGPA encourages men to speak with a urologist about their individual risk for prostate cancer and options for routine screening. Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers among American men and one of the leading causes of cancer death. However, urologists can help improve outcomes by helping patients decide what screening and treatment options are right for them.

About 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime. Certain groups are at higher risk, including men over 65 years old, men who have a family history of prostate cancer and men who have been exposed to certain toxic chemicals. Furthermore, prostate cancer has the widest racial disparity of any cancer—Black men are not only more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer but are also twice as likely as men of other racial and ethnic groups to die from the disease.

Urologists diagnose and treat prostate cancer with a variety of methods based on the individual patient. Since early detection is key to improving outcomes, urologists may recommend genetic testing and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screenings, especially for patients at higher risk.

Approximately 10% of prostate cancers are thought to be caused by a genetic mutation. Genetic testing can improve outcomes for patients who have these mutations, which put them at higher risk for developing cancer. Genetic testing is particularly important to consider for people who have a history of cancer in their families.

PSA tests screen for prostate cancer by measuring the level of PSA in a patient’s blood. These routine screenings are crucial for early detection of prostate cancer, which allows urologists to more effectively monitor and control the disease. Unfortunately, in 2012, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommended against these routine PSA screenings for healthy men, which research suggests may have led to more diagnoses of advanced prostate cancer. New legislation aims to address this concerning trend on a state and federal level. For example, the recently introduced Prostate-Specific Antigen Screening for High-risk Insured Men (PSA Screening for HIM) Act would remove many of the financial barriers that high-risk patients face to access screenings, including deductibles, co-pays and coinsurances.

“As a urologist, I am alarmed by the increase in diagnoses of advanced prostate cancer among American men,” said Evan Goldfischer, M.D., president of LUGPA. “It is no secret that early detection saves lives. LUGPA encourages all men to speak with a urologist about their personal risk for prostate cancer and appropriate screenings from them. Urologists are here to support patients and to work with them to address this critical issue for men’s health.”

Every person deserves access to high-quality, cost-effective care to prevent and treat prostate cancer. LUGPA represents over 150 independent urology practices across the country that provide services to provide services help you understand risk factors, diagnose and treat prostate cancer. To learn more, visit www.lugpa.org

About LUGPA 

LUGPA is the only nonprofit urology trade association in the US. Since its founding in 2008, LUGPA has earned national recognition in the pursuit of its mission to preserve and advance the independent practice of urology while demonstrating quality and value to patients, vendors, third-party payors, legislators and regulatory agencies. The robust resources LUGPA provides help member groups to meet the challenges of independent practice in today's rapidly changing healthcare marketplace. For more information, visit www.lugpa.org 

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