“We Must do Better,” A Position Statement Regarding PSA Screening from Dean Foster, MD, PCRI Medical Director

Last May, the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) triggered a firestorm of debate after issuing its recommendation against the use of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test to screen for prostate cancer. In her editorial responding to the controversy, Task Force Chair, Dr. Virginia Moyer summarized the committee’s findings with this sentence, “We can do better.” The Prostate Cancer Research Institute (PCRI), while disagreeing with the Task Force’s simplistic banning of PSA, does agree with Dr. Moyer’s conclusion: We can indeed do better.

“We can do better in educating men on the pros and cons of PSA,” explains Dr. Dean Foster, the PCRI medical director and prostate cancer survivor. “However, all the recent controversy is giving men an excuse to tune out about a disease that affects one in six of them. The subject of prostate cancer already makes men uncomfortable.  The controversy over the PSA test gives them one more reason not to pay attention.”

The PCRI encourages men to learn about PSA testing in consultation with their physician. When PSA screening is implemented and elevated levels are detected, further education is necessary before undergoing biopsy. For men with a high PSA, the PCRI currently recommends two additional tests prior to undergoing biopsy: PCA--3, a widely available urine test, and multi-parametric MRI. The PCRI offers free Helpline services to aid men in locating centers offering these services. 

Finally, Dr. Foster concludes: “Men can receive the benefit of PSA screening and still protect themselves from the risk of overtreatment, which is the main factor cited by the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force for giving PSA a “D” rating. The PCRI stands in agreement with Dr. Moyer and the USPSTF in that ‘we all must do better.’  However, PCRI does not recommend simply abandoning PSA screening. Through education, unnecessary overtreatment of the benign type of prostate cancer can be avoided while still using PSA to detect the aggressive form.”

The PCRI’s New Medical Director

BY MARK SCHOLZ, MD

The Prostate Cancer Research Institute (PCRI) was co-founded by Dr. Stephen Strum and me in 1996. I have been volunteering as the PCRI’s Executive Director and Medical Director since 2007. I stepped into this dual role suddenly when our previous director, Brad Guess, passed away in 2006 from a heart attack.  As Executive and Medical Director, it has been my responsibility to fulfill PCRI’s stated mission, i.e. to improve the quality of men’s lives by supporting research and disseminating information that educates and empowers patients, families and the medical community.

Thanks to the excellent work of Angelique Guarneri in 2010, and subsequently the work of Cathy Williams who took over as Chief Operating Officer in 2011, PCRI has been growing quickly.  New programs include the Online Blue Community, The Mentor Curriculum and the Play for Blue Fundraisers, all of which operate in addition to existing programs, newsletters, website, helpline, and our annual conference.

Several new people have joined PCRI: Madhu Rajaraman, Staff Journalist; Laurie Sorrow our Programs Director; and Silvia Cooper our newest Helpline Counselor, who works alongside our longstanding Helpline Counselors, Nathan Roundy and Jan Manarite. Also part of the PCRI team includes Tom Gallatin, our Grant Writer, and Angelique Guarneri who now serves as a Social Media consultant.

With the creation and growth of these new programs, my functioning in the dual role of Executive Director and Medical Director has become far too demanding.  In fact, I have become concerned that without a fulltime Medical Director, PCRI’s continued growth and progress will be impeded.

Therefore, as of September 1st, Dean Foster, MD has been hired as the new Medical Director of the PCRI.  Dr. Foster’s resume is too extensive to review in detail. Briefly, he was educated in molecular biology at the University of California in San Diego (UCSD). He studied medicine at USC where he also completed residency in orthopedic surgery. Before retiring from medical practice to pursue missionary work, Dean was a specialist in reconstructive surgery in La Jolla and on the clinical faculty at UCSD. Having known Dean personally for many years, I am thrilled that he is willing to assume the leadership of this vibrant and growing organization. Please join me in welcoming him as the PCRI’s new Medical Director!

I plan to continue my labors to ensure the fulfillment of PCRI’s mission.  I am looking forward to working closely with Dr. Foster to assure the continued expansion and success of the PCRI.