Massachusetts Legislators Approve Key Funding for Prostate Cancer Awareness Campaign
Conference Committee Report Includes $500k for Public Education Initiative in FY15 Budget, Putting Massachusetts in Lead
BOSTON, MA, June 30, 2014—The Massachusetts’ House of Representatives and Senate today placed the state in a national leadership position by creating a new education and awareness program dedicated to prostate cancer. The $500,000 campaign, contained in the conference committee report of the FY15 budget, is aimed at saving lives, improving quality of life, and reducing health care costs. This program will be managed by the Department of Public Health and uniquely focused on men with African American roots, family history and other individuals at high risk of lethal prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy in Massachusetts and causes a higher mortality rate than even breast cancer, particularly in the African American community. Even though early detection saves lives, 630 Massachusetts men will die in 2014. The prostate cancer crisis, however, is not limited to preventable deaths. For every lost life, this year alone, at least three men will have unnecessary treatment and over 30 men will have unnecessary biopsies, which cause complications and inflate health care costs.
Committed to ending the prostate cancer crisis, AdMeTech Foundation established the Manogram® Project to develop and implement accurate diagnostic tools for improved screening, early detection and treatment, modeled after life-saving mammograms.
“I commend the legislative members of the conference committee for creating a Massachusetts model of national and international leadership in prostate cancer awareness and education,” Dr. Faina Shtern, AdMeTech’s President, said. “This program will make it possible to bring fundamental breakthroughs in patient care and research, which we have seen over the last year, to every man and healthcare provider in our state.”
This budget allocation follows a historic precedent set by state legislators, jointly with Boston Mayor Martin Walsh and the Boston City Council, when they recognized prostate cancer as a public health priority and a patient care disparity at the annually-held Prostate Cancer Awareness Day at the State House.
The conference committee report, once adopted by the House and Senate, will go to the Governor’s office for final approval. Earlier this year, both the House and Senate included $500,000 for prostate cancer awareness programs in their respective budgets.
About AdMeTech Foundation: A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Boston, MA, AdMeTech Foundation established the Manogram® Project providing international leadership for groundbreaking programs in research, education and awareness in order to advance early detection and treatment. Annual Prostate Cancer Awareness Day at the Massachusetts State House, established in 2009, is an integral part of these efforts. For more information, visit www.admetech.org.
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