Early Detection Saves Lives: PCEC’s Mission to Expand PSA Screening

How to cite: Turner M. Early Detection Saves Lives: PCEC’s Mission to Expand PSA Screening. Grand Rounds in Urology. February 2026. Accessed Mar 2026. https://grandroundsinurology.com/early-detection-saves-lives-pcecs-mission-to-expand-psa-screening/

Summary

Molly Turner, MBA, Executive Director, Prostate Conditions Education Council (PCEC), Centennial, Colorado, provides a mission-driven update on the critical work of PCEC, including  early prostate cancer detection, the removal of screening barriers, and national, community-based outreach. Ms. Turner outlines how PCEC continues to expand its impact more than three decades after its founding.

She maps PCEC’s overall impact, from the organization’s founding in 1989 to its success in providing access for prostate cancer screening and early detection for millions of patients nationwide through partnerships with clinicians, hospitals, mobile screening units, and community organizations..

Focusing on the central theme of access, Ms. Turner explains the many barriers patients face to obtaining  prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing, including insurance coverage limitations, cost concerns, stigma, and lack of awareness. She describes how PCEC addresses these barriers to ensure patients receive appropriate screening and follow-up.

Ms. Turner emphasizes disparities in prostate cancer outcomes, particularly among African American men and underserved communities. She describes how PCEC works locally with trusted partners who understand community needs, using mobile screening units and on-site events to meet patients where they live and work. These efforts are designed to reduce disparities and improve survivability through early diagnosis.

Ms. Turner also highlights recent national partnerships, including collaboration with National Football League clubs through the Crucial Catch Initiative, supported by Novartis. These partnerships expand awareness and normalize prostate cancer screening through high-visibility platforms. Additionally, PCEC has expanded digital offerings, providing virtual educational resources and expert videos that allow patients to access credible information from home.

Ms. Turner reaffirms PCEC’s long-standing mission: early detection saves lives. She underscores that advances in prostate cancer treatment have dramatically improved outcomes, but only when cancer is detected early. She encourages collaboration, advocacy, and continued engagement with PCEC as the organization evolves to remain relevant and impactful.