— Black America is at the Highest Risk for Prostate Cancer —
Boston, MA — September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and Black America suffers the nation’s largest prostate cancer burden with incidence and mortality rates 60% and 150% higher, respectively, than all other men. Therefore, PHEN has organized these exciting events to bring education and awareness to what the organization is calling “Black America’s Prostate Cancer Burden.”
PHEN Monthly Webcast
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
6:00 PM
PHEN kicks-off prostate cancer awareness month with its monthly meeting and webcast at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The webcast will feature call-ins from members of PHEN’s national survivor network discussing PHEN education and outreach activities, taking place within their cities during the month of September. The webcast link will be available at www.rapcancer.org
Thursday, September 17:
Eleventh Annual “African American Prostate Cancer Disparity Summit”
Hotel Monaco, Washington, DC
8:30 AM- 3:30 PM
PHEN will host its Eleventh Annual “African American Prostate Cancer Disparity Summit,” on September 17th, at Hotel Monaco (700 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20004), from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. This year’s Summit is titled “Black America’s Prostate Cancer Burden, A National Review.” In May 2012 the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended against PSA testing, despite the fact that Black America suffers the nation’s largest prostate cancer incidence and mortality rates, 60 % and 150 % higher, respectively, than men of all other ethnicities. PHEN will initiate a National Review of Black America’s prostate cancer burden at the Summit, and plans to publish a National Consensus Agenda following the event. Twenty-five speakers and presenters will participate in the Summit, including medical experts, Congressional leaders, advocates and members of PHEN’s prostate cancer survivor network. The Summit is FREE and open to the public. Click for Summit Program Overview and Schedule.
Friday, September 18:
Eleventh Annual “African American Prostate Cancer Disparity Summit”
45th Annual Legislative Conference Congressional Black Caucus
Washington Convention Center, Room 144C
Congressman Gregory Meeks (NY), will host the second day of the Summit, on September 18th, at the Washington Convention Center (801 MT. Vernon Place NW, Washington, DC 20004, Room 144C), as part of the 45th Annual Legislative Conference of the Congressional Black Caucus. Speakers will include Congressman Meeks, Dr. Edith Mitchell, President of the National Medical Association and Dr. Jonathan Simons, President of the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
The Summit is FREE and open to the public. Click for Summit Program Overview and Schedule.
Friday, September 18 (cont.):
PHEN President and Founder, Featured in USA Today
PHEN president and prostate cancer survivor, Thomas A. Farrington has written the forward for a special USA Today prostate cancer supplement, on September 18th. His piece focuses on how the fight against prostate cancer is at a critical crossroads, as it pertains to PSA testing controversies and Black men, who are at the highest risk for prostate cancer.
Thursday, September 17 – Wednesday, September 30:
Atlanta, GA and Philadelphia, PA
PHEN is also teaming with Astellas Pharma US for prostate cancer awareness events in Atlanta, GA, on September 17th, and in Philadelphia, PA, on September 30th. “Prostate Cancer is the leading cause of cancer in men, just as breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer for women,” said PHEN founder and President, Thomas A. Farrington. “However, we still have so much work to do to raise the visibility of prostate cancer to try and keep up with the strides that women have made with breast cancer. Our aim is to do as much as we can, by hosting these various prostate cancer education and awareness activities around the country this month.”
About PHEN
The Prostate Health Education Network (PHEN) is the leading patient education and advocacy organization addressing the needs of African American prostate cancer patients and survivors. About 1 in 5 African American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime; with the highest prostate cancer incidence and mortality rates in the United States. Based in Quincy, Mass., PHEN, a 501(c)(3) organization, was founded in 2003 by Thomas A. Farrington, a prostate cancer survivor. PHEN Initiatives include monthly live educational webcasts, the Annual Father’s Day Rally, educational symposiums with church partners, and the Annual African American Prostate Cancer Disparity Summit in Washington, DC. For more information, visit PHEN’s website: www.prostatehealthed.org.
PRESS CONTACT
Tomeeka Farrington
617-423-0040
Tomeeka@spotlightcommunications.net