ATLANTA – As a culmination of the efforts behind the Prostate Cancer Awareness Pledge Campaign, there will be a prostate cancer symposium on Saturday, April 2, 2011 held at the Morehouse School of Medicine located at 720 Westview Drive SW, Atlanta, GA 30310 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Prostate cancer is a serious health concern in Georgia. According to the American Cancer Society, the state of Georgia ranks 11th in number of estimated deaths per capita from the disease.
The Georgia Prostate Cancer Coalition, RC Cancer Centers, Atlanta Hawks, Atlanta Thrashers, UPS, CR Bard, WXIA Television, Morehouse School of Medicine, KISS 104.1 Radio and WSB Radio partnered in support of the challenge for 10,000 men in Georgia pledge to have the conversation with their doctors and/or be screened by April 30, 2011.
The campaign launched in December with a gathering of partners and officials with Mayor Kasim Reed as he signed a pledge card to have a conversation with his doctor and/or be screened for prostate cancer. On Monday, March 14, 2011, legislators from the Georgia House and Senate gathered to sign pledges and got screened for prostate cancer as they recognized Prostate Cancer Awareness Day at the capitol.
“We’ve made great strides in the last few months but still have a ways to go in the mission to raise awareness about prostate cancer in Georgia,” said Frank Catroneo from the Georgia Prostate Cancer Coalition.
The Prostate Cancer Symposium will be divided into two sessions. The morning session for physicians only will begin at 7:30 a.m. and features a panel discussion on public health trends, informed decision making for prostate cancer, outcomes and the impact of health policy impact on prostate cancer. Attending physicians will be eligible for CME credits.
The second session which begins at 10 a.m., is free to the public and will educate and empower men, providing information to support better prostate cancer treatment decision making and raise general awareness. Moderated by Jerry Carnes of WXIA 11 Alive, the day’s program includes several renowned speakers including Jonathan Simons, M.D., president and CEO of the Prostate Cancer Foundation, James Bennett, M.D., Morehouse School of Medicine faculty, Ingrid Hill, Ph.D., MPH from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as James Benton, M.D., radiation oncologist from RC Cancer Centers.
The Georgia Department of Community Health reports prostate cancer is the leading cause of cancer among Georgia males and accounts for 28 percent of all new cancer cases among males each year. Other than skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men and the second leading cause of cancer death, behind lung cancer according to the American Cancer Society.
A prostate screening PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) is a simple blood test which will not define a man’s prostate cancer status, but provides the basis for men to start the right conversations with their doctor. When prostate cancer is detected early, it is a very curable disease.
“Maintaining an ongoing relationship with our healthcare providers is an essential part of preventive care when discussing prostate cancer because risks vary from person to person,” said Dr. Roland Matthews, from Morehouse School of Medicine and Director of the Grady Cancer Center for Excellence.
“As the campaign continues through the next few weeks,” said Michael Holton, president and COO of RC Cancer Centers. “RC Cancer Centers continues to offer free of charge PSA screenings for men over 40 years old. They can be screened at any one of our five locations in Georgia. For screening locations, visit www.GeorgiaProstateCancerPledge.com .”
Nationally, about one in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime. Prostate cancer is treatable when caught early.
To register for the Prostate Cancer Symposium visit www.GeorgiaProstateCancerPledge.com or contact Shelly Glenn at 770-682-2099 x. 119 or sglenn@rccancercenters.com.
To learn more about the Prostate Cancer Pledge Campaign, visit www.GeorgiaProstateCancerPledge.com.
For those looking for a meaningful commitment on Valentine’s Day, RC Cancer Centers along with the Georgia Prostate Cancer Coalition, Atlanta Hawks, KISS 104.1, Atlanta Thrashers, WSB Radio, UPS, C.R. Bard, WXIA Television and Morehouse School of Medicine have issued a challenge to have 10,000 men in Georgia pledge to engage in a conversation with their doctors and/or get screened for prostate cancer between now and April 30, 2011.
Prostate cancer is one of the most common non-skin cancers in America. It affects 1 in 6 men and accounts for 28 percent of all new cancer cases among Georgia males each year. Getting a loved one tested may be the greatest gift of all this Valentine’s Day.
“Early detection is the greatest preventative measure a person can take,” says Dr. Mark Merlin radiation oncologist at RC Cancer Centers. More than 2 million men in the U.S. have been diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point and are still alive today, according to the American Cancer Society.
“It is crucial for men to maintain an ongoing relationship with their healthcare provider as the risk for prostate cancer will vary from person to person,” says Dr. Philip Shrake, radiation oncologist at RC Cancer Centers.
Show romance and affection a little differently this year and encourage the one you love to get a prostate cancer screening and start the dialogue with their doctor this Valentine’s Day.
RC Cancer Centers has partnered with the Atlanta Hawks and Atlanta Thrashers, UPS, CR Bard, WXIA Television, Morehouse School of Medicine, KISS 104.1 Radio and WSB Radio to support the Georgia Prostate Cancer Coalition in an effort to better educate men about their health choices and raise awareness about prostate cancer in the state of Georgia.
The prostate specific antigen (PSA) screening is a simple blood test that RC Cancer Centers is encouraging you to do for your love. Do it for each other.
To take the pledge or learn more about the Georgia Pledge Campaign, visit www.GeorgiaProstateCancerPledge.com.
As the holiday season is upon us, WAPC has created a holiday ornament that we are selling as a fundraiser for our 2011 efforts. This small token can speak volumes as a gift for the supportive woman in your life, to show a prostate cancer patient that you care, or just to show your support of prostate cancer awareness. Families are fortunate that women can, and do, play an essential role in the prevention, early detection,research, advocacy, support, and caregiving for the prostate cancer patients they love. Show them that you recognize their encouragement and support by giving them a special ornament. See pictures and purchase online at: http://www.womenagainstprostatecancer.org/donate/holidayornament/
All proceeds will support WAPC’s 2011 efforts to make a difference in the lives of families effected by prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer is a serious health concern in Georgia. According to the American Cancer Society, the state of Georgia ranks 11th in number of estimated deaths per capita from the disease. In an effort to raise awareness about prostate cancer and ensure more men commit to be informed and screened, several companies and media organizations have joined the Georgia Prostate Cancer Coalition in launching a pledge campaign.
The Georgia Prostate Cancer Coalition, RC Cancer Centers and the Georgia Department of Community Health along with the Atlanta Hawks, Atlanta Thrashers, UPS, CR Bard, WXIA Television, Morehouse School of Medicine, KISS 104.1 Radio and WSB Radio are supporting this initiative to increase prostate cancer awareness throughout the state of Georgia.
“Specifically, we are encouraging every man who is over the age of 40 in Georgia to speak to his doctor and take the pledge to get screened for prostate cancer,” said Frank Catroneo, Georgia Prostate Cancer Coalition Board Member. “Our goal is to have 10,000 men in Georgia pledge to have the conversation with their doctors and/or be screened between now and April 20, 2011.”
M. Rony Francois, MD, MSPH, PhD, Director, DCH Division of Public Health and State Health Officer said, “I look forward to the potential that this pledge campaign holds in increasing the number of men who talk to their doctor about prostate cancer screening.”
To encourage prostate cancer discussions and screenings, the Atlanta Hawks and the Georgia Prostate Cancer Pledge committee will provide two tickets to several Atlanta Hawks home games, starting with the December 7th home game versus the New Jersey Nets, to the first 2,000 men who commit to being screened for the first time. Men can visit http://www.hawks.com/ or http://www.georgiaprostatecancerpledge.com/ to make their screening pledge and redeem their complimentary tickets online.
There will be a number of activities and events to help educate men and their loved ones, and to bring awareness to the serious health impact of prostate cancer for all concerned. The events will culminate in April with a prostate cancer symposium, a golf tournament, a motorcycle ride, video testimonials of survivors and much more.
Michael Holton, president and COO of RC Cancer Centers, which specializes in the ProstRcision treatment for prostate cancer said, “Throughout the campaign, we will be offering free of charge PSA screenings for men over 40 years old, who have not been diagnosed with prostate cancer or previously treated for this disease. They can be screened at any one of our five locations in Georgia. For screening locations, visit http://www.rccancercenters.com/.”
Current data available from Georgia Department of Community Health, the Centers for Disease Control and the American Cancer Society show:
“It is crucial for men to maintain an ongoing relationship with their healthcare provider as the risk for prostate cancer will vary from person to person,” said Roland Matthews, M.D., from Morehouse School of Medicine and Director of Georgia Cancer Center for Excellence at Grady Health System.
A prostate screening PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) is a simple blood test which will not define a man’s prostate cancer status, but provides the basis for men to start the right conversations with their doctor. When prostate cancer is detected early, it is a very curable disease.
To learn more about this prostate cancer initiative, visit www.GeorgiaProstateCancerPledge.com .
Last week, the Los Angeles Movember launch event had downtown fire fighters out in full force. Their goal is to challenge a total of 100 firehouses in the greater LA area to join the cause in 2010 and, of course, to start follicularly-stimulated discussions about the scope and severity of the prostate cancer problem. At Davidson College in South Carolina, students will kick off Movember on November 1st with participants wearing suits and ties on campus to focus on the movement. In Westwood, members of the UCLA Greek system are also turning in their razors for a month. The list goes on.
Fun? Definitely. Frivilous? Certainly not. They are all helping to save lives.
In ten countries around the globe, men will soon be letting their hair out to support awareness and raise crucial funds for finding better treatments and cures for this disease that affects more than 16 million men and families around the world. Since 2004, Mo’ bros and Mo’ sistas have raised more than $40 million dollars to support research for men’s diseases. What’s more, in the U.S. they are changing the way prostate cancer is viewed. The Prostate Cancer Foundation and LIVESTRONG are the beneficiaries of Movember efforts in the States. In its first three years in the U.S., Movember raised $2.3 million to support prostate cancer research through PCF. This year’s goal is $2 million. That’s a whole lotta mo’s and mo’ola.
Adam Garone is a founder of this unique movement that first started growing in Australia. He and his global team have engaged and motivated an entire generation of young men to tear down the taboos around prostate cancer and educate their contemporaries and their families about the second most deadly cancer for American men, after lung cancer. In 2010, it is estimated that 218,000 new cases will be diagnosed in the U.S. and more than 32,000 American men will die from it. By 2015, the number of new U.S. cases each year could rise above 300,000.
Literally and figuratively, Movember is definitely living up to it tagline: Changing the Face of Men’s Health. The teaching moment starts the moment anyone asks a participant, “What’s that on your face?”
The annual Movember campaign is fun, quirky and purposeful. It’s also proof that one should never be too quick to dismiss a good idea that might arise on a weekend afternoon while having a few beers with your mates. Interested? More information on Movember can be found at www.Movember.com.
Visit http://www.standup2cancer.org/ for more information.
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| Prostate cancer survivors, medical and research specialists, government, community and industry leaders will assemble for the sixth annual PHEN summit. The two-day summit, which is open and free to the public, will be held in the Rayburn House Office Building on Thursday, September 16th (9am – 4pm), and at the Washington Convention Center on Friday, September 17th (8:30am – 12 noon). The Friday session is hosted by Congressman Gregory Meeks (D-NY) as a part of the Congressional Black Caucus “Annual Legislative Conference.”
The Thursday session will focus on new prostate cancer treatments along with clinical trials and research efforts which are underway toward future treatments. The session will examine how these new developments can reduce or eliminate the 150% African American death rate disparity. The importance, and the process, of patients making informed decisions about their treatments selections, and participating in clinical trials, will be an important part of the Thursday session. The Friday program will highlight PHEN’s “Rally Against Prostate Cancer” (RAP Cancer) national education and awareness initiatives. Presentations by survivors and church leaders will focus on the highly successful 2010 “Father’s Day Rally” held within churches across the country. They will outline their experiences reaching men and women through this inaugural PHEN / church partnership effort. Plans and strategies for expanding church participation in the 2011 Father’s Day Rally will be presented and discussed. A major emphasis will be on goals and plans to utilize the PHEN / Church partnerships to broaden and accelerate prostate health education and awareness outreach throughout Black America with the highest levels of visibility, priority and effectiveness ever achieved. National leaders and key decision makers will be active participants in the 2010 summit as has been the tradition for the PHEN summits since they were started in 2005. Summit Registration For more information click here: http://www.prostatehealthed.org/ |
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Also known as RC Cancer Centers.
