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FRIDAY, May 19 (HealthDay News) -- Five U.S. states -- Alabama, Arkansas,
Idaho, Mississippi and Wisconsin -- failed the first-ever prostate cancer
report cards issued by the National Prostate Cancer Coalition (NPCC).
California, Connecticut, Kansas and New York received the best grades.

On the report cards, the states are rated based on current prostate cancer
screening rates, death rates, and whether they have laws guaranteeing
insurance coverage for prostate cancer testing.

"Many states are not doing even the simplest things when it comes to
fighting prostate cancer. Early detection saves lives, and far too many
states don't encourage men to know the risks and to get tested," Dr. Richard
Atkins, CEO of the prostate cancer coalition, said in a prepared statement.

Currently, 28 states have laws that force insurance companies to pay for
prostate exams, compared to 49 states that require coverage for breast
cancer screening.

Two of the states with failing grades -- Mississippi and Alabama -- rank
second and fourth, respectively, in terms of having the highest prostate
cancer death rates. Two other failing states -- Idaho and Wisconsin -- rank
fifth and ninth, respectively, in the lowest screening rates.

Connecticut, which had a perfect score, was the only state to rank in the
top 10 in highest screening rates and lowest death rates.

"There are several states that could've scored A's, if only they had
screening mandates," Atkins noted. "Screening rates are already starting to
improve among the states that have recently adopted screening mandates, like
Oregon and Washington."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20060522/hl_hsn/5statesgetfailinggradesonprostatecan
cerreportcard