The routine PSA test that was administered to me was key to detecting my cancer at an early stage. Without it, it is likely that the cancer would have continued to grow undetected, thus decreasing not only my chances of full recovery, but my chances of survival as well. Because I believe in the importance of early detection, I was very pleased to see that the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 contained a provision that will allow for Medicare coverage of PSA exams. The rationale for covering PSA's is that by focusing on early detection and preventive measures, we will not only save lives, but we can actually help reduce long-term health care costs as well. We have made a great deal of progress in our battle against prostate cancer, but we still have a long way to go.
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among American men.
It affects one out of every 11 men and has a 25 percent mortality rate. I want to be clear that I am not questioning the level of research spending for breast cancer. However, I do believe that research spending on prostate cancer is insufficient in light of the prevalence and deadliness of the disease. Now that we have made progress in the area of screening, we must put prostate cancer research at the top of our list of priorities. Like periodic screening, a strong commitment to prostate cancer research will not only save lives, but will actually lower health care costs over the long haul.