UROLOGISTS AND HENRY SCHEIN TEAM UP TO URGE FAMILIES TO PUT PROSTATE CANCER CHECK-UPS ON THE BACK TO SCHOOL LIST FOR DAD
‘Wear Blue for the Men You Love’ campaign for Prostate Cancer Awareness Month raises awareness of the critical importance of early detection in saving men’s lives
MELVILLE, N.Y., September 6, 2012 –Advanced Urology Centers of New York, Advanced Radiation Centers of New York, Integrated Medical Foundation, and Henry Schein Cares, the global corporate social responsibility program of Henry Schein, Inc., are partnering together to raise awareness among families across the country of the importance of putting prostate cancer check-ups on the calendar for the men in their lives. September – which for many families is back-to-school time for the kids – is also prostate cancer awareness month. The collaborative group launched the “Back to School: Wear Blue for the Men You Love” initiative to create more public awareness about the importance of early detection of prostate cancer to save men’s lives.
“Prostate cancer can affect any of the men in our lives – our fathers, grandfathers, husbands, brothers, uncles, sons, friends and neighbors – but with early detection this disease is almost always curable,” said Dr. Deepak A. Kapoor, president of the Large Urology Group Practice Association and president of Advanced Urology Centers of New York. “As children return to school, this is a great time to remind men to have a discussion with their doctor to determine if they need a prostate check up. Together we can help ensure that generations of men are there for not only their children’s back to school, but for their grandkids as well.”
According to Dr. Kapoor, one out of six American men will have prostate cancer in their lifetime; the incidence is even higher for African-American men and for those with a family history of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin malignancy diagnosed in men; with early detection efforts, the death rate from prostate cancer has decreased by approximately 40% in the United States.
Integrated Medical Foundation, a 501 (c) 3 organization which promotes awareness and early detection of prostate cancer, has organized the “Wear Blue for the Men You Love” initiative to educate the public about the importance of early detection prostate cancer screenings. IMF urges everyone to wear blue on September 28th in honor and memory of the men they love. Additional awareness building initiatives include a Blue Ribbon 5K Run for prostate cancer at the Town of Oyster Bay Golf Course in Woodbury, NY on November 18, 2012 and the Belmont Stakes Blue Ribbon 5K Run for prostate cancer at Belmont Park Racetrack on June 2, 2013. There will be free prostate cancer screenings available at both events. For more information about IMF’s events, FREE prostate screenings and support group dates, please visit www.IMFcares.org.
“Unfortunately, there are no symptoms during the early stages of prostate cancer, when the disease is most treatable,” added Dr. Kapoor. “Despite improvement in patient education and awareness, many men still fall through the cracks; prostate cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer death in American men. The tragedy is that when the disease is caught early the 10-year survival is almost 99%. “We all need to come together to ensure that our message is heard: early detection saves lives.”
