Elected officials, prostate cancer experts, advocates, Celtics Legend Cedric Maxwell come together for Prostate Cancer Awareness Day
In an effort to highlight the critical importance of early detection and treatment of prostate cancer, elected officials, medical experts, and advocates today came together for AdMeTech Foundation’s 7th Annual Prostate Cancer Awareness Day. The featured speakers included Governor Charlie Baker, Senate President Stanley Rosenberg, Senate Majority Leader Harriette Chandler, NAACP New England Area Conference President Juan Cofield, Marathon legend and prostate cancer survivor Bill Rodgers, and Celtics great Cedric Maxwell.
Maxwell dedicated his participation to K.C. Jones, his former coach and Hall of Famer, who became one of the first prominent sports figures to go public about his experience with prostate cancer fifteen years ago.
“Prostate cancer is a public health crisis and a major area of patient care disparity in men of color. Countless men lose their lives and their quality of life, at a great cost to our families and health care,” said Dr. Faina Shtern, President of AdMeTech Foundation. “Education and awareness makes it possible to bring the cutting-edge advances in patient care and research from Massachusetts world-renown hospitals to every man, including the most vulnerable and the underserved. Together, we can lead the nation in ending a dreadful socio-economic impact of prostate cancer.”
In support of this goal, Dr. Adam Feldman, a prostate cancer specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital and a member of the Men’s Health Committee of the Massachusetts Medical Society, held complimentary “office hours” at the event, providing free counseling on screening, diagnosis, and treatment to men and their families.
“Awareness and education about prostate cancer are the first important steps as medical experts and researchers look for an end to this terrible disease,” said Governor Baker. “I applaud the leadership of AdMeTech on programming that, in coordination with the Department of Public Health and so many others, will inform the public, encourage early detection, and work to save the lives of fathers, husbands, brothers, and sons.”
“Thank you to the AdmeTech Foundation for sponsoring this event to raise awareness about prostate cancer. This disease is the second deadliest form of cancer among men and we need to fight to eliminate all forms of cancer,” said Senate President Rosenberg (D-Amherst). “We have the drive, knowledge, and world class research institutions right here in Massachusetts to eliminate this terrible disease that affects so many families. The first step, as you have shown here today with this great event, is to educate the public about the devastating effects of prostate cancer and how early detection can make such a significant difference.”
“Prostate cancer is the second most malignant type of cancer for men, but with proper diagnostic tools, treatment, and awareness, prostate cancer can be treated and cured when detected early,” said Senate Majority Leader Chandler (D-Worcester).
Adding to the mounting support for prostate cancer education and awareness, Cofield announced NAACP’s backing of the newly launched, first-of-its-kind statewide prostate cancer education and awareness program spearheaded by AdMeTech in cooperation with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Massachusetts Prostate Cancer Coalition, and Men of Color Health Awareness. This program is focused on men at high risk and seeks to save lives, improve quality of life, and reduce health care costs.
“Prostate cancer will take the lives of hundreds of Massachusetts men this year alone,” said Cofield. “This disease discriminates. Prostate cancer is 2.5 times more lethal in men of color. On behalf of NAACP, I am proud to join AdMeTech Foundation in fighting this disease.”
Ten Massachusetts elected officials, including some of those who spoke at today’s event, appeared together in a bipartisan prostate cancer awareness video, “We All Agree 2015.” This is the third in a series of videos, which also features this week’s Larry Lucchino message and last year’s gubernatorial candidates video.
“Prostate cancer affects so many men and their families across the Commonwealth. I am honored to lend my voice to such an important cause, which does so much to advance public awareness of this lethal disease,” said House Majority Leader Mariano (D-Quincy), who appeared in “We All Agree 2015.” “Early diagnosis and treatment are vital to defeating prostate cancer, but the first step in making informed health decisions is having the educational tools and support to do so. I am proud to join my fellow legislators and state leaders in supporting this initiative at this year’s Prostate Cancer Awareness Day.”
Prostate Cancer Awareness Day—moderated this year by Karen Holmes Ward, the host of CityLine on WCVB-TV—is an integral part of AdMeTech’s goal to create a Massachusetts model of national leadership in prostate cancer awareness and education.
This year’s event was sponsored by Hitachi Aloka, Sotio, Genomic Health, and Genentech, international leaders in research and development for the advancement of diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer.
