Showing posts with label Prostate Cancer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Prostate Cancer. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 09, 2024

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin diagnosed with prostate cancer

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has been diagnosed with prostate cancer after being hospitalized and treated at Walter Reed Medical Center for several days. Austin was admitted on New Year's Day for complications from a surgery he had and the Pentagon did not disclose his hospitalization until several days later.

Friday, September 22, 2023

Cory Booker Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Prostate Cancer Detection

U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and John Boozman (R-AR) introduced the bipartisan Prostate-Specific Antigen Screening for High-risk Insured Men Act, legislation that would require private health insurance plans to cover preventive prostate cancer screenings without imposing any cost sharing requirements for men who are at high risk of developing prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer affects 1 in 8 American men in their lifetime. Further, individuals who have at least one close family member diagnosed with the disease are at least twice as likely to be diagnosed themselves. The risk increases with each additional family member affected. Additionally, prostate cancer disproportionately affects African-American men as they are 1.8 times more likely to receive a prostate cancer diagnosis and 2.2 times more likely to die from the disease.

Currently, the Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test is the most effective tool for detecting prostate cancer. In many cases, prostate cancer is initially identified through this test as it measures the levels of PSA in the blood—a substance produced by the prostate that can be elevated in individuals with prostate cancer. Prostate cancer detected in Stage 1 is almost 100% survivable, compared to below 30% if caught at a later stage.

"Costs shouldn’t impose a barrier between people and lifesaving health screening services,” said Senator Booker. “Prostate cancer is a serious health concern, especially for African-American men and men with family history of this disease as they are more likely to face diagnosis and mortality. This bipartisan legislation would make prostate cancer screenings are more accessible to all high-risk men, so we can reduce health disparities and increase early detection to save lives."

“Diagnosing prostate cancer early is imperative to successful treatment. I know from personal experience in my own family the impact this disease has on patients and their loved ones. Increasing access to early screening for at-risk men will save lives. I am proud to be a voice in Congress for all those affected, because together we can help keep prostate cancer treatable and raise needed awareness,” said Senator Boozman

"Every step towards eliminating financial barriers to prostate cancer screening is a win for men and their families, particularly those at the highest risk for the disease, and the PSA for HIM Act is a significant step forward. We appreciate the leadership of Senator Booker and Senator Boozman and their efforts to make prostate cancer screening accessible to all," said Courtney Bugler, President and CEO of ZERO Prostate Cancer. "By ensuring that every individual has the opportunity for early detection and timely intervention, we are advancing significant progress to safeguard the health of our communities."

"Increasing the rate of prostate cancer early detection screening for Black men is vital to reducing the death rate disparity, which is the largest for any of the major cancers. The PSA Screening for HIM Act will be a strong catalyst to increase screening by removing the financial barrier that is faced by many. PHEN emphatically supports this legislation that will save countless lives and lead the way in addressing the prostate cancer racial disparity," said Thomas A. Farrington, Prostate Health Education Network (PHEN) President and Founder.

“Screening can help detect prostate cancer at an early stage before the disease becomes more advanced and more difficult to treat; however out-of-pocket costs such as co-pays can be a barrier to accessing early detection,” said Lisa A. Lacasse, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. “The PSA Screening for HIM Act would remove a significant barrier that prevents far too many at high risk for prostate cancer, including those in the Black community, from getting screened. We thank Sens. Booker and Boozman for introducing this bill and look forward to working with them to get it passed.”

“The introduction of the Senate companion to the PSA for HIM Act is a tremendous win for prostate cancer patients,” said Eugene Rhee, MD, MBA, chair of the American Urological Association’s Public Policy Council. “This legislation will ensure that people who are at a higher risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer are able to access screenings without cost-sharing barriers. Receiving regular PSA screenings can be the difference between catching this cancer early and being diagnosed with metastatic disease.”

The legislation is endorsed by the following organizations: Active Surveillance Patients International, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Inc., American Urological Association (AUA), Cancer & Careers, Cancer ABC's, Cancer Support Community, CancerCare, FORCE (Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered), National Alliance of State Prostate Cancer Coalitions, Patient Empowerment Network, Prostate Cancer Foundation, Prostate Cancer Research Institute, Prostate Conditions Education Council, Prostate Health Education Network, RetireSafe, Seattle Children's Foundation, Sexual Medicine Society of North America, Society for Basic Urologic Research, Society of Urologic Nurses and Associates, Society of Urologic Oncology, Society of Women in Urology, Stand Up To Cancer, Triage Cancer, UsTOO Support Programs, ZERO Urology Care Foundation, Veterans Prostate Cancer Awareness Inc.,  ZERO Prostate Cancer.

The full text of the bill can be found here.

Thursday, April 14, 2022

Robert F. Smith helps launch Mobile Prostate Cancer Screening Bus to help Black men

Robert F. Smith and Mount Sinai’s Center of Excellence for Prostate Cancer have launched the very first mobile prostate cancer screening bus in the United States. Prostate cancer is a very common disease that many men are at risk of developing in their lifetime. In fact, prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in American men (outside of skin cancer), and it’s the 4th most common cancer diagnosis globally.

Another tragic fact is that Black men are at a much higher risk of developing this disease and eventually dying from it compared to white men. To address this issue affecting the Black community, Smith donated $3.8 million to Mount Sinai for the official launch of the Robert F. Smith Mobile MRI Unit to support prostate health awareness. This community effort will help provide increased education, awareness, and early detection screening to Black men across New York City’s greater neighborhoods of color to prevent prostate cancer from progressing further.

Black men are 1.7 times more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer and 2.1 times more likely to die from prostate cancer than white men. While a clear reason for these substantial differences can’t be exactly defined, a variety of different factors could be contributing to the inequity. In the United States, Black Americans can be at a disadvantage when it comes to receiving the necessary preventative care needed for health concerns making them at-risk for diseases such as prostate cancer. With increased care and awareness, the racial divide for prostate cancer in men is narrowing. Early detection of this hard-hitting disease is crucial to increasing survivability. That’s why Smith has partnered with Mount Sinai to offer prostate health screenings for the Black community.

The new Robert F. Smith Mobile MRI Unit will bring prostate cancer screening directly to Black men in the communities of Central, Eastern, and West Harlem; the Upper East Side; and Queens. These communities of color are at a higher risk of developing prostate cancer and dying from it than white communities. That’s why it’s crucial to have tools such as the Mobile MRI Unit in place for early detection and prevention of this disease.

This state-of-the-art mobile facility will provide the necessary tools for advanced screening for prostate cancer by trained medical professionals. Through this community outreach program, the Mount Sinai Health Center hopes to:

Raise awareness about prostate cancer and the screening services offered by the Mobile MRI Unit.

Set up prostate screening appointments in predominantly Black neighborhoods across New York City.

Schedule follow-up visits for patients with urologists at the Mount Sinai Center of Excellence for Prostate Cancer.

The Mobile MRI Unit will be able to bring this technology and testing straight to the Black communities of Harlem and beyond. Access to an MRI can be life changing and aids in early detection of this disease in Black Americans. If abnormally high PSA levels are detected, Mount Sinai will develop a treatment plan for the patient which will include follow-up visits at Mount Sinai’s Center of Excellence for Prostate Cancer.

Sunday, May 07, 2017

Black men, get screened for Prostate Cancer

An important message to black men on the importance of getting screened for Prostate Cancer.