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Northeast Tops Prostate Cancer Fight
June 18, 2007 -- Northeastern states are doing a better job fighting prostate cancer than those in the Southeast, according to a national report card issued by advocates Monday.
The report gives Arkansas, Kentucky, and Mississippi failing grades on preventing and treating the disease. Wisconsin, Nevada, and New Mexico also earned F grades from the National Prostate Cancer Coalition.
Connecticut, New Jersey, and Rhode Island all earned grades of A or A- in the group's second annual report.
The report looks at each state's prostate screening rates and at whether state laws require insurance companies to cover screening tests for men. Thirty states now require such coverage, including Alabama, which passed a new insurance mandate earlier this month.
The grades also take into account whether patients have access to clinical trials.
Nearly 220,000 American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2007, and the disease will claim the lives of about 27,000 men in 2007, according to estimates from the American Cancer Society.
Death rates have dropped by close to a third since 1992, according to the American Cancer Society.
"We think that early detection is playing a crucial role in the drop," Richard Atkins, MD, CEO of the National Prostate Cancer Coalition, tells WebMD. The group receives part of its funding in the form of grants from drug companies and other private industry groups.
But African-American men are still about twice as likely as white men to die from prostate cancer.
One consequence of higher screening rates in states receiving high grades could be more detected cases. Just over 200 of every 100,000 men in New Jersey are diagnosed with prostate cancer, giving the state the highest incidence rate of any state in the nation.
Tennessee has an incidence rate of just 109 per 100,000 men, possibly suggesting low screening and detection rates.
- Fighting prostate cancer or know someone who is? Share your thoughts on WebMD's Prostate Cancer Support Group message board.
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Indication
Uroxatral® (alfuzosin HCl 10 mg extended-release tablets) is an alpha1-blocker for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of BPH.
Important Safety Information
Do not take UROXATRAL if you have liver problems or if you are taking antifungal drugs like ketoconazole or itraconazole, or HIV drugs like ritonavir.
UROXATRAL can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure, especially when starting treatment. This may lead to fainting, dizziness, and lightheadedness. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do any dangerous activity until you know how UROXATRAL will affect you. This is especially important if you already have a problem with low blood pressure or take medicines to treat high blood pressure. There may be an increased risk of low blood pressure and fainting when taking UROXATRAL in combination with blood pressure medication or nitrates, or erectile dysfunction medication.
If considering cataract surgery (clouding of the eyes), tell your eye surgeon that you are currently taking UROXATRAL or have previously been treated with an alpha-blocker.
Before taking UROXATRAL, tell your doctor if you have kidney problems.
Also, tell your doctor if you or any family member(s) have or take medications for a rare heart condition known as congenital prolongation of the QT interval.
BPH and prostate cancer can cause the same symptoms. However, UROXATRAL is not a treatment for prostate cancer.
The most common side effects with UROXATRAL are dizziness, upper respiratory tract infection, headache, and tiredness.
Please see UROXATRAL full prescribing information.
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