My Personal Journey with Prostate Cancer
In 2002 at age 49, I went to my physician for a routine physical exam. The lab results from blood tests identified an elevated PSA blood test. I was diagnosed with prostate cancer and I had no symptoms at all! Obviously, I was shocked as most healthcare professions recognized prostate screening to begin at age 50. After my diagnosis, I looked for a statewide group to supply information about risks, treatment options and complications of the diagnosis. There was no such organization in Kentucky . As a result, I founded the Kentucky Prostate Cancer Coalition (KPCC) to address the need for enhanced awareness of prostate cancer, which affects one in six men and to get the word out for men to be screened at age 40! In two short years, we have screened over 10,000 men. We're sounding the alarm through free screenings and educational events throughout the state.
Centered on Father's Day weekend, we have teamed up with WAVE-3 TV and Kentucky Cancer Program to organize the 4 th Annual Families for Fathers Prostate Cancer Awareness Walk and Free Screenings to be held on Saturday, June 17 at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium, Gate 9. Registration for the walk is 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. and free screenings will be held from 9 a.m. to noon in the Papa John's Cardinal Stadium Locker Room. The 9 a.m. Opening Ceremony will include a celebration of survivors. The walk route is from the stadium to Churchill Downs infield and back.
Men, we are really good at getting the oil changed in our cars. But when it comes to getting physicals for our health, we fall very short.
It's the women in our lives that take the initiative to drag us to the doctors' for our prostate check ups. My wife, Heather, shares her concerns throughout the country.
“It's essential for women to get involved because men aren't as open about their healthcare needs as women. We're asking all the women of Kentuckiana to gather your fathers, husbands, brothers, children, grandchildren, uncles, nephews, friends and Vietnam Veterans exposed to Agent Orange and form a team to join us for the Families for Fathers Prostate Cancer Awareness Walk and Free Screenings.”
She advises all Vietnam Vets whose boots touched land in Vietnam or those that served on ships near the coast to get screened as studies indicate that prostate cancer is a side effect of exposure to Agent Orange which places these Veterans at high risk.
Individual and team registration forms may be obtained at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom , Meijer, Papa John's, Kentucky Cancer Program, Jewish Hospital, Sts. Mary & Elizabeth Hospital, River City Bank and WAVE 3, or visit www.WAVE3.com website. Please call 502-852-6318 to schedule a screening for June 17th. Gifts will be provided for pledge levels starting at $30. Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom is awarding two free tickets for this season for $100 pledges. Papa John's, Churchill Downs, Louisville Bats and Sts. Mary and Elizabeth Hospital are also providing gifts for various pledge levels.
Steve Langford, WAVE-3 TV general manager, spearheaded the Families for Fathers Walk in 2003.
“Fighting prostate cancer during Father's Day Weekend with an annual walk and free screenings will save lives in our community,” Langford said. “Early prostate cancer has no symptoms and is most commonly detected through screenings.”
Prostate cancer screenings include a Prostate Specific Antigen test, which involves taking a small sample of blood to measure the amount of protein made by the prostate, and a digital rectal exam. The Kentucky Prostate Cancer Coalition and the National Alliance of State Prostate Cancer Coalitions guidelines for screenings suggests that men begin at age 40 (age 35 for African-American men and men with known or uncertain family history of prostate cancer) and annually after that.
Annual screenings are very important! It is imperative that each man takes the responsibility to monitor the changes throughout his lifetime. An increase greater than . 75 percent in one year generally is suspicious for cancer.
Men diagnosed with prostate cancer need to surround themselves with prostate cancer experts and learn how to stay ahead with treatments, diet and lifestyle changes, while addressing the major symptoms and fighting the disease through its course. “Diet affects risk of prostate cancer with high intake of red meat and dairy products increasing the risks while high consumption of fish, green vegetables, tomato products, fruit and soy products decrease risk,” said Lexington resident and 8 1/2 year survivor, Dr. Don Lynam, board member of Kentucky Prostate Cancer Coalition and International Vice-Chairman of Us TOO.
The Prostate Cancer Foundation research shows that a non-smoking man is more likely to get prostate cancer than lung, bronchus, colon, rectal, bladder, lymphoma, melanoma, oral and kidney cancers combined. “In 2006, over 234,000 men will be newly diagnosed with prostate cancer compared with 213,000 women being diagnosed with breast cancer.
After lung cancer, prostate cancer is the leading cause of cancer related deaths among men in the U.S. ,” said Connie Sorrell, KPCC board member and director of Kentucky Cancer Program.
“Over 32,000 men will die from prostate cancer this year,” Sorrell said.
Evy Abell McKemie, executive director of KPCC added, “If a close relative has prostate cancer, a man's risk of the disease more that doubles. With two relatives, his risk increases five times. With three close relatives, his risk is about 97 percent!”
The chance of having prostate cancer increases rapidly after age 50. African-American men are 65 percent more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than Caucasian-Americans and twice as likely to die from it. The reasons for this disparity are not yet known. We are making prostate cancer a key public health priority in Kentucky .
“Through my experience with Steve's diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer, I have learned that cancer becomes a family issue, not just an individual's concern,” expressed Heather. “The Families for Fathers Walk and Free Screenings provides a wonderful atmosphere for our community to focus on men's health issues.” As smoking and lung cancer decline, prostate cancer will soon be the number one cause of deaths among men.
KPCC and KCP will be teaming with the University of Louisville Hospital and local urologists to offer free prostate cancer screenings at the Kentucky State Fair, South Wing Exhibit Hall, from Saturday, Aug. 19 to Saturday, Aug. 25 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
A 10-minute test may save your life! It may have saved mine.
Dr. Steve Henry, survivor, is an orthopedic surgeon at the University of Louisville Hospital specializing in trauma and surgery. He served as Lt. Governor for two terms from 1994 to 2002. He was the leading advocate to address childhood obesity and to remove junk food from schools in Kentucky . In 2001, he traveled to every county in Kentucky to assist in delivering free gun safety locks to protect children. He is married to Miss America 2000 Heather French Henry. They have two children, Harper Renee (5) and Taylor Augusta (3).