Earlier today, the American College of Radiology called upon the Secretary to ensure the panel included "experts from the areas on which they will be advising lawmakers and submit their recommendations for comment and review," as is done with Medicare guidelines.

Ironically, the supporting data used by USPSTF does indicate mammography screening reduces breast cancer deaths by 15 percent annually. For prostate cancer, USPSTF references an ongoing screening study where early detection (using the PSA test) has so far reduced deaths by 20 percent.

"It's obvious this government panel has some explaining to do and hopefully, with prodding from the Secretary, we will get some answers to explain their contradictory position," Lockwood said.

Similarities between breast and prostate cancer data in the U.S. are striking. Each is the most frequently diagnosed noncutaneous cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death for their gender. In 2009, new cases of each cancer were at about 194,000. One in six men is struck with prostate cancer annually; for breast cancer, it's one in eight women.

SOURCE ZERO - The Project to End Prostate Cancer