New prostate cancer EPCA -2 test more effective than PSA

Recent studies show that a new cancer antigen-2 (EPCA-2) blood test may be more effective in detecting prostate cancer than the currently used prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test.

Research indicates that the EPCA-2 blood test appears to detect prostate cancer earlier and more accurately than the standard PSA testing methods. The PSA test remains a topic of debate, as it often misdiagnoses the cancer; in some men, the PSA test finds signs of cancer when there is simply an infection. In other men, the PSA may fail to detect any problems when cancer may indeed be present.

When tested on 330 men, researchers found that the EPCA-2 test was 97% effective in identifying men without cancer, and 94% effective in detecting those with the disease. The PSA test, in comparison, detected cancer in only 85% of men with the disease. Furthermore, the new EPCA-2 test appears to detect whether the cancer has spread beyond the prostate – a majorfactor to consider when prescribing cancer treatment.
Proposed change to US -VISIT procedure does not apply to snowbirds
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has recently announced a proposed rule change to the photographing and digital finger-scanning procedures of the US-VISIT program. The proposed change will expand the number of non-U.S. citizens who, upon entering the United States, would be subject to the above-mentioned scanning procedures. However, this rule only applies to certain Canadian citizens, such as those with Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) status in the U.S. (i.e. a green card), or those who enter the U.S. for specific business or employment reasons (i.e. Form I-94 holders). The proposed rule change would not affect Canadian citizens entering the U.S. as casual tourists for a maximum of six months per year. This includes most Canadians who enter the U.S. for the purpose of shopping, visiting friends and family, vacations (such as snowbirds in the winter) or short business trips.

This proposed change is separate from the current ongoing discussions regarding the necessity of possessing a passport to enter the U.S. by the end of 2007.

For specific questions or concerns about the proposed change by US-VISIT, please contact the Canadian Snowbird Association at 1-800-265-3200 or (416) 391-9000.
Enhanced security measures for air travel: Be prepared
Enhanced security measures for air travel normally result in checkpoint delays. You can help to minimize the inspection time by ensuring that you do not have prohibited items in your carry-on luggage. These items include liquids, gels and lotions, such as shampoo, toothpaste, hand cream, aerosol spray and beverages. For a comprehensive list of all permitted and prohibited items, please visit the Transport Security Administration website at www.tsa.gov, or call the TSA Contact Center toll-free at 1-866-289-9673.