July 2010 The Get Checked Update from The Prostate Conditions Education Council

Get Checked Update

Prostate Conditions Education Council

July 2010

For over 20 years the third week in September has been dedicated to prostate cancer awareness and early detection. Prostate Cancer Awareness Week (PCAW) is the world's largest and longest running prostate health screening program. Please join the Prostate Conditions Education Council (PCEC) for this years Prostate Cancer Awareness Week on September 19-25, 2010! Together, we can continue to offer FREE or low-cost early detection, raise awareness and educate men and the people in their lives on the prevalence of prostate cancer, early detection and treatment options.

PCEC understands organizing a Prostate Health Screening Event can be an immense undertaking. We are here to help! PCEC not only helps organize prostate health screening events for hospitals, clinics, physicians offices and large corporations, we also host one the biggest prostate health screening events in the nation screening up to 1000 men in four days. Thus, we are very familiar with the details, challenges and benefits of hosting an early detection program, please feel free to contact us if you have any challenges or if you have a "tip" that has made your event more successful.

PCEC, offers a detailed step-by-step Screening Guide, for all registered screening sites, to help organize your event! We also can provide your organization with low cost PSA processing, educational materials for your participants, a FREE listing on our Website and Toll-free Phone Locator which include your screening dates and times, posters to help promote your event and a useful Media Kit with tools to help advertise your event!

PCEC will also be providing each site with educational information that address the controversy surrounding prostate cancer screenings and ensures all participants are informed in their decision to participate in early detection. Our National Council of Physician's strongly believes in the life-saving benefits of early detection and recommends, a baseline prostate health assessment, including; A prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test with a digital rectal exam (DRE), for all men starting at age 35. Based on the results of this initial exam, repeat testing may not be necessary for up to five years.

We sincerely wish to thank all of the Screening Sites who have registered for Prostate Cancer Awareness Week this year! With your help, hard work and dedication, we can make this September one of the most successful life saving events ever!

BPH

Based on more than 10,000 Screening Questionnaires from the the 2009 Prostate Cancer Awareness Week (PCAW) program; one of the primary conditions analyzed by our researchers was Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). The urinary symptoms evaluation was designed to access this condition and yielded the following information:

Participants were asked to complete the following questions in relation to their urinary symptoms:

How often have you had a sensation of not emptying your bladder completely after you finish urinating?

How often have you had to urinate again less than two hours after you finished urinating?

How often have you found that you stopped and started again several times when you urinate?

How often have you found it difficult to postpone urination?

How often have you had a weak urinary stream?

More than 26% of participants responded with "more than half the time" to each of these questions indicating significant urinary issues. However, 86% of participants said they were NOT currently taking prescription medicine for an overactive bladder and 80% reported they were NOT taking prescription medications for urinary problems. Finally, a quarter of participants indicated they are unsatisfied with their current urinary condition.

In conclusion, despite the significant BPH symptoms and quality of life concerns among screening program participants, surprisingly few are taking even simple measures such as medications to address the poor quality of life and BPH symptoms they are experiencing. PCEC has had several abstracts and posters presented on this data at national medical meetings, and has future research endeavors planned for this population include longitudinally tracking these patients to determine if their symptoms persist, decrease, or increase; as well as tracking whether they decide to seek treatment options.

Screening Site "Tips From Your Peers"

Did you know...

Local Phlebotomy Schools can provide students for the blood draw portion of your screening event! Please contact PCEC and we will be happy to help you find Phlebotomy Schools in your area.

PCEC has PSA Lab Kits available for $5.00 each. PSA Lab Kits include: one blood draw tube, one aliquot tube, specimen storage boxes (each holds 81 samples), a large zip-seal bag and one absorbent pad per box. PSA Lab Kits are FREE of charge of all Longitudinal Study Sites!

The PACE RACE Series
Prostate Cancer Survivors and Patients

The Three B's

PCEC hosts a national run/walk event called the Prostate Awareness and Cancer Education (PACE) Race Series. This event reaches men and women across the country to educate them on prostate health and increase awareness of prostate cancer as well as emphasize the importance of a healthy lifestyle. PACE series began in 2002, and is the largest and first national run series for prostate cancer. Today, the series has grown to include PACE Race Spokesmen, Bart Yasso of Runners World, marathon legend Bill Rodgers, and Olympian Benji Durden who have each been affected by prostate cancer. Our spokesmen believe that prostate cancer impacts men on many levels including; mentally, physically and emotionally. Keeping active was one of the most important things that helped them each through their individual challenges with the disease.

Bill Rodgers, a prostate cancer survivor continues to run on a daily basis as he did through his diagnosis and treatment. Bart Yasso, whose brother passed away from prostate cancer, is an advocate for living a healthy lifestyle and used running to help manage the emotional stress of losing his brother. Benji Durden, also a prostate cancer survivor, is still well known for his running endeavors and successes. Even through the hardship and healing, all three men found that keeping active was an important part of their race with prostate cancer. Advice from the experts encourages men to give themselves 20-30 minutes a day to take a walk, jog or participate in an exercise activity. Those 30 minutes will not only increase your well being, but they will give you the boost your body needs.

To find out more about the PACE Race series visit www.PACErace.org.

To join the many Physician Groups across the country hosting a PACE Race event contact Laura Lantzy at:

Laura.Lantzy@ProstateConditions.org

                                7009 S. Potomac Street, Suite 125 - Centennial, CO 80112
                                                                    1-866-4PROST8
                                                            www.prostateconditions.org

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