Prostate Cancer Awareness Day
KEY MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATORS LEAD THE NATION IN DECLARING PROSTATE CANCER A PUBLIC HEALTH PRIORITY
Historic Precedent is Created, Call to Action to Improve Early Detection & Treatment is Issued
BOSTON—September 15, 2011— Senate President Therese Murray jointly with Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo had set up a historic precedent by declaring prostate cancer as a public priority, central challenge in men’s health and a major disparity issue. Senate President introduced the Massachusetts General Court Resolutions at the Third Annual Prostate Cancer Awareness Day at the Massachusetts State House on Thursday, September 15. The Resolutions recognized AdMeTech Foundation, a Boston-based nonprofit which hosted this event in cooperation with Boston Bruins Icon Mike Milbury, leaders of medicine and advocacy groups, including Massachusetts Prostate Cancer Coalition, US International, Prostate Health Education Network, and with support from the American Cancer Society.
Senator Stephen Brewer, Chair of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means presented Governor’s Proclamation announcing September 15 as the Prostate Cancer Awareness Day and urging “all the citizens of the Commonwealth to take cognizance of this event and participate fitfully in its observance.” Senator Stephen Brewer, Senator Kenneth Donnelly, Chair of the Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight, and Representative Stephen Kulik, Vice Chair of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means are prostate cancer survivors who co-hosted the State House event, jointly with Senator Susan Fargo, Senate Chair of the Joint Public Health Committee and Co-Chair, the Health Disparities Council.
Speaker of the House DeLeo said , “I would like to issue a call to action to my colleagues at the State House, our world-leading universities, advocacy, philanthropic and other organizations: Lend your voice and your efforts to improving early detection which will save lives and improve quality of lives in millions of men. Together, we will make sure our families and our communities will not have to grieve – ever again – for our fathers, brothers or sons.” He acknowledgedRepresentative Kulik, Senators Brewer and Donnelly “for setting up an example for so many men in our country and our state by having the courage to speak up about their experience with prostate cancer and the generosity to transform their personal experience into a public service.”
Prostate cancer is the most common major cancer in the United States, striking as many as 1 in 6 men. Mr. Milbury, a brother of the prostate cancer survivor pointed out that prostate cancer had become even more common than breast cancer and expressed his support for the AdMeTech Foundation’s efforts to create life-saving “ManogramR”. Dr. Faina Shtern, President of the AdMeTech Foundation and a daughter of the prostate cancer survivor said, “Prostate cancer discriminates: it is 250% more lethal and 60% more common in African American men. I applaud members of the State House who had created a Massachusetts model of national leadership in leading the battle against the prostate cancer crisis.”
ABOUT ADMETECH FOUNDATION: A Boston-based non-profit organization which conducts ground-breaking programs in research, education and awareness to advance diagnostic tools for improved early detection and treatment of prostate cancer. (visit www.admetech.org)