Man-up for Prostate Cancer Awareness
Prostate Cancer Awareness focuses raising awareness of the incidence and significant impact of prostate cancer on men and their families. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer for men in the United States. Moreover, 1 in 4 African American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime.
Prostate Cancer Awareness is a program that will support the efforts in helping men get screened and understand the risks behind the diagnosis. We will work with organizations and attend events to discuss this in the prostate cancer community.
Program Statistics
Prostate cancer kills more men in the U.S. than any other cancer except lung cancer. 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his life. There is much secrecy surrounding prostate cancer because many men are redundant to discuss it even after being treated for the disease. We intend to life is veil of secrecy and partner with you to fight this disease.
Studies show that many older men who died of other causes also had prostate cancer that never affected them during their lives. In many of these cases neither the men nor their doctors even know they had prostate cancer. In 2023, about 288,300 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed. Over 34,700 American men will die from prostate cancer this year alone.
Program Goals
Prostate Cancer Awareness focuses raising awareness of the incidence and significant impact of prostate cancer on men and their families. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer for men in the United States. Moreover, 1 in 4 African American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime.
Prostate Cancer Awareness is a program that will support the efforts in helping men get screened and understand the risks behind the diagnosis. We will work with organizations and attend events to discuss this in the prostate cancer community.
Program Objectives
- Increase prostate cancer awareness
- Increase knowledge of prostate cancer
- Have a community to discuss prostate cancer openly without fear
Future
Prostate Cancer Awareness will continue their commitment to support by donating to causes, attending yearly events throughout the Philadelphia region. We will be socially active on social media to continue the fight against prostate cancer.
Roosevelt's Story:
In 2022, I received the surprising news that routine blood tests that I had performed by my Internist at my most recent physical examination indicated that my PSA results were elevated. I did not initially realize what that meant, but quickly learned that it was a common screening test used to detach prostate cancer. Though my PSA numbers were not significantly elevated, my doctor recommended a repeat PSA, eventually followed by further studies should my PSA numbers remain high.
I followed his recommendations and the diagnosis of prostate cancer was thereafter confirmed through prostate biopsy (a term that sounds worse than the experience actually was). Prostate biopsy is the definitive test to confirm whether or not cancer is present.
Denial, bewilderment and fear were the first emotions that I experienced. Followed of course by the envitable question of “why me.” My doctors at the University of Pennsylvania were very informative I must say did a very good job at presenting the various options for treatment to me. Due to my age (relatively young for a diagnosis of prostate cancer) and stage of my cancer, and health status (I was pretty healthy but for my cancer diagnosis), my surgeon recommended the removal of my prostate – a procedure known as a radical prostatectomy.
After a period to sort everything out, including consideration of all the options, and discussions with my family and close friends, I made the decision to undergo surgery. It was at this time that I realized that I had become part of a large, but relatively secret society of men – those who had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. I learned that prostate cancer is the most common cancer for men in the United States. Statistics show that 1 in 8 men in America will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime. My personal experience during this time would confirm this for me. As I openly discussed my diagnosis with friends and colleagues, many of them quietly told me about their diagnosis and treatment. Some of these friends I had known for many years, but it was not until now that they told me about their prostate cancer journey. Why? What prevented them from sharing their stories previously. I am sure that each of them had their own reasons, but I am equally convinced that there is a need for more men to be open and free with sharing their experience with the thousands, if not millions, of men who will follow us.
The insights, inspiration and courage of the friends who shared their prostate cancer experiences with me was extremely helpful to me. Therefore, my hope now is to share (with the encouragement of my loving wife) what I have learned and experienced from my prostate cancer journey to date. Yes, I am attempting to rip the veil from our secret society of men and to expose what prostate cancer is like from the perspective of someone who is fighting that battle right now. I invite other men to share their stories on the Hairston Hub section of this website. Hopefully, what follows will help the thousands of men who will join our club in 2023.
– Roosevelt Hairston
2023 Prostate Cancer Facts:
- 288,300 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in 2023
- Roughly 34,700 American Men will die from Prostate Cancer
Your Risk of Prostate Cancer
- 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer is the second leading cause of death in American men, behind only lung cancer
- 1 in 41 men will die of Prostate Cancer
- African American men die at roughly twice the rate as men in general from Prostate Cancer
Types of Prostate Cancer
Most Prostate Cancers are adenocarcinomas. These cancers develop from the glands cells (the cells that make the Prostate fluid that is added the to the semen).
- Small Cell Carinumas
- Neveroendorine tumors
- Transitional cell carcinomas
- Sarconas
Most Prostate Cancers grow slowly. In fact, studies show that many older men who died of other causes also had prostate cancer that never affected them during their lives. In many of these cases, neither the men nor their doctors even knew they had prostate cancer.
– American Cancer Society