State Political and Health Care Leaders Declare War on Prostate Cancer and Support Research to Improve Early Detection
Massachusetts legislature’s investment of $1.5 million for clinical trial of MRI Manogram® could turn the tide against the second most lethal cancer in men
Boston Marathon Legend and Prostate Cancer Survivor Bill Rodgers
Joins the Fight Against an Epidemic That Claims 1 in 6 Men
BOSTON – Hall of Fame long-distance runner Bill Rodgers was so dominant in the Boston and New York Marathons between 1975 and 1980 that it was no surprise when he competed in the 1976 Olympics. While preparing to run the 2008 Boston Marathon to celebrate turning 60, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
“Boston Billy” could run, but he could not hide from what has become the most common major malignancy in the United States and the second most deadly cancer in men.
Never one to back away from a challenge, Rodgers successfully fought the disease and is now back on the road as an advocate for research to improve early detection of prostate cancer. “We celebrate the ancient history of the marathon,” said Rodgers. “But we need to end the ancient state of the prostate cancer carnage among men and bring the quality of care into the modern age.”
Rodgers will join, Senate President Therese Murray, House Speaker Robert DeLeo, Public Health Commissioner Cheryl Bartlett, State Treasurer Steve Grossman and other key leaders of government, medicine, industry and advocacy for the Fifth Annual Prostate Cancer Awareness Day (PCAD) at the State House on September 12. This event is organized by Dr. Faina Shtern, President of AdMeTech Foundation, in partnership with prostate cancer surviving State Senators Stephen Brewer and Kenneth Donnelly, and Representative Stephen Kulik and other key leaders of legislation, medicine, advocacy and industry.
These annual events have been instrumental in a growing recognition that millions of men do not have access to accurate diagnostic tools for early detection of prostate cancer akin to life-saving mammograms available to women. With strong support of Senator Murray, who is widely recognized as a champion of breast cancer research, they have recently led the effort to allocate $1.5 million for a clinical trial of MRI Manogram® to improve early detection. Their goal is to bring prostate cancer care from the dark ages into the modern era of breast cancer care.
“While we are celebrating September 2013 as a National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, I applaud leadership of the Massachusetts legislators who have created a model of national leadership in transforming prostate cancer awareness and research. They have recognized the impact of the current state of the prostate diagnostics: Over 1 million American men – including more than 20,000 Massachusetts men – each year undergo unnecessary, traumatic and costly biopsies that are performed blindly and analyze only 0.5% of the prostate tissue, or even less. This is unacceptable for patient care in the 21st century.”, said Dr. Shtern, who leads research and advocacy for the advancement of diagnostic technologies.
Dr. Shtern noted that prostate cancer is more common than breast cancer, and yet federal funding for breast cancer research continues to outpace federal funding for prostate cancer research by more than two-to-one. She led the advancement of digital mammograms that have saved women’s lives and replaced radical mastectomies with minimally invasive lumpectomies. In contrast, over 200,000 men still undergo radical prostate cancer treatment every year, and many of them are left with life-altering complications, such as incontinence and impotence. “Advocates for breast cancer research created a blueprint that we need to follow if we want to take good care of our men,” she said.
The PCAD event will be held on September 12 in the State House’s Great Hall from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with the ultimate goal to advance prostate cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment. This event is sponsored by Bayer Healthcare and Genentech, and tcutting-edge exhibits will be presented by In Vivo/Philips, Sotio and Sanofi. For more information, visit www.admetech.org.
