Yesterday I wrote about some questions concerning the "Stand Up To Cancer" telethon fundraiser. 
I will always be troubled by journalists - such as Charlie Gibson, Brian Williams and Katie Couric - lending their support to advocacy causes. It calls their editorial judgment and independence into question. Indeed, there are serious issues to discuss about cancer research in this country. But journalists are undoubtedly less likely to pursue such questions when they're involved in glad-handing endorsement of a cause.
But the anchors, by their presence, also endorsed one of the messages of the program which is simply not supported by evidence. This is becoming a tired but predictable theme: non-evidence-based advocacy of screening tests that may result in more harm than good.
On the telethon, "Everybody Loves Raymond" star Brad Garrett - in a highly promoted move - appeared to fake having a digital rectal exam on the air. Meantime, the program pronounced that every man over age 50 should have an annual prostate exam. The program urged viewers to "Push Your Dad To Get a Prostate Exam," and used this cartoon on its website.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force states:"The USPSTF concludes that for men younger than age 75 years, the benefits of screening for prostate cancer are uncertain and the balance of benefits and harms cannot be determined."
So, producers of "Stand Up For Cancer", you encouraged viewers to push their Dads to get an exam for which the benefits are uncertain and the harms are known.
And Big 3 TV anchors, you not only crossed a line from journalism into advocacy, but you did so for a cause that gave some very questionable and potentially harmful advice to whoever watched the big show.
Congratulations to all concerned.
The USPTF states, "balance of benefits and harms cannot be determined." This recommendation does not say do not get prostate exams they just are not sure how beneficial they are verses the risk profile. Unfortunately, men are much less likely than women to seek preventive care services. I believe the show was trying to reduce men's fear of the DRE and hopefully open dialog between the patients and their physicians on the delicate subject.
Believe me, if you are a man with aggressive and advanced prostate cancer you are definitely going to see the benefits of a prostate exam.
Pharmacist Mike:
The USPSTF recommendation does not say “do not get prostate exams.� Neither do they say “Get annual exams� or “push your Dad to get annual exams� as the program did. The program mentioned nothing about the complexity of the issue and the depth and quality of the shared decision-making encounter that should take place between physician and patient.
You also wrote that a man with aggressive and advanced prostate cancer is definitely going to see the benefits of a prostate exam. The correlate to that is that a man who received a false positive diagnosis, lived with anxiety, and perhaps had a needless biopsy or more – would definitely see the harms of a prostate exam.
This is not a black or white issue. There should not be a push for or against screening. There should be a deep and intelligent discussion about harms and benefits and tradeoffs – something the program lacked.
I promise not to be obnoxious, lest I get deleted... Thanks for pointing out the overblown aspects of Friday's show. I blogged it for the HealthCentral Network; my take was more "show me the money." While there was indeed a lot of unfortunate/misleading hype, I'm glad there was also a fair amount of money raised, and hopefully a vast percentage of it will be used efficiently and effectively.
The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of prostate cancer screening in men younger than age 75 years.
Hi everyone...I am John from Mexico..I have seen your forum...Nice information provided here which is very useful to everyone....This is becoming a tired but predictable theme: non-evidence-based advocacy of screening tests that may result in more harm than good.....thanks for posting...Let me know more about this.....