Prostate cancer survivors, physicians and cancer advocates gathered at the Pennsylvania State Capitol to urge swift passage of legislation that would expand access to prostate cancer screening for high-risk men. The proposals--House Bill 281 and Senate Bill 447—would remove cost-sharing requirements for those at high-risk of developing prostate cancer that currently keep too many Pennsylvanians from getting screened.
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death among men in Pennsylvania. In 2025 alone, an estimated 13,400 men in the Commonwealth will be diagnosed and nearly 1,500 are expected to die from the disease. Advocates stressed that early detection is critical to survival but remains out of reach for many that need it most because of financial barriers.
“As a veteran, I’ve faced many battles but none as personal as prostate cancer,” said COL Jim Williams, Chairman of the Pennsylvania Prostate Cancer Coalition (PPCC). “I was lucky my cancer was found early, but too many of my fellow veterans and men at high-risk of developing prostate cancer aren’t as fortunate because screening is out of reach. Cost should never be the reason a man misses the chance to detect cancer early and save his life.”
For the high-risk populations included in the legislation, this development could be critical to their likelihood of survival. Early detection is key for positive prostate cancer outcomes: if the disease is caught early, there is a nearly 100% chance of survival. However, when the disease is caught in its advanced stages, the likelihood of survival drops to just 37%.
“When prostate cancer is caught early, it is highly treatable and survivorship outcomes are dramatically better,” said Dr. Ed Balaban, DO, FACP, FASCO, the current Vice President of the Pennsylvania Medical Society. “Removing cost barriers for high-risk men is a commonsense step that will save lives and reduce the financial burden of late-stage care.”
Public health leaders also pointed to the broader public health benefits of the bills.
“This legislation is not only about ensuring more Pennsylvanians have access to early detection. It is also about men’s health—that it matters and state lawmakers should create opportunities, not barriers, for men to detect and prevent cancer,” said Donna Greco, government relations director for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) in Pennsylvania. “We thank Senator Devlin Robinson and Representative Jeanne McNeill for championing these bills and look forward to working with them to get them passed."
“As an alliance of leading cancer centers devoted to patient care, research, and education, including two Member Institutions in Pennsylvania, NCCN is proud to join ACS CAN and others to support laws that enable life-saving cancer screening in Pennsylvania,” said Crystal S. Denlinger, MD, FACP, CEO, National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®). “Screening according to evidence-based, expert consensus-driven guidelines, such as those from NCCN, improves the opportunity to diagnose and treat cancers at earlier stages when there is greater chance for a cure. Bills that make evidence-based, expert consensus-driven cancer screening accessible to every eligible person are critical to facilitate cures. We can accomplish great things in Pennsylvania when we all work together to provide access to high-quality, high-value, patient-centered care.”
The event was organized by the PPCC alongside partners including the ACS CAN, ZERO Prostate Cancer, FORCE: Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.
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About ACS CAN
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) makes cancer a top priority for policymakers at every level of government. ACS CAN empowers volunteers across the country to make their voices heard to influence evidence-based public policy change that improves the lives of people with cancer and their families. We believe everyone should have a fair and just opportunity to prevent, find, treat, and survive cancer. Since 2001, as the American Cancer Society’s nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate, ACS CAN has successfully advocated for billions of dollars in cancer research funding, expanded access to quality affordable health care, and advanced proven tobacco control measures. We’re more determined than ever to stand together with our volunteers to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. Join the fight by visiting www.fightcancer.org.