DENVER -- As a prostate cancer survivor, General Colin Powell is doing his part to inform men across the United States of the importance of prevention.
In 2003, the former Secretary of State underwent surgery for prostate cancer and made a full recovery. Since that time, General Powell has contributed his time to the Prostate Cancer Education Council, a non-profit that each year sponsors Prostate Cancer Awareness Week (PCAW).
"Early detection is the best weapon we have against this silent killer," notes General Powell.
Rates of death from prostate cancer have declined over past years, but the disease remains the second-leading cause of cancer death in American men. More than 218,890 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year, and 27,050 men likely will die from the disease. With more annual cases of prostate cancer than of breast cancer among women, screening is imperative to ensure the health of the men of our nation.
Yet prostate cancer is nearly 100 percent survivable when detected early. That is why PCEC coordinates free and low-cost screenings each year across the country during PCAW, scheduled this year for Sept. 17 - 22.
PCEC recommends yearly screening for men 35 and older if they fall into one of the high-risk categories, including African-Americans, who are at a higher risk than Caucasians, or men who have a family history of the disease. All men over 40 should be checked yearly.
To remind men of the importance of yearly screening, General Powell will relate his personal story through national public service announcements on both radio and television.
TAP Pharmaceutical Products Inc., Lake Forest, Ill., is a long-time supporter of PCEC and has provided financial support for this year's PCAW educational efforts. The campaign intends to help decrease the number of men affected by prostate cancer to nearly zero in years to come.
According to PCEC founder Dr. E. David Crawford, "Every three minutes an American male discovers he has prostate cancer. Early diagnosis is critical to catch this disease when it is at its most curable stage."
Screenings during PCAW take about 10 minutes and include a Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test and a Digital Rectal Exam (DRE) done by a trained professional.
To find a PCAW screening site near you and for more information on prostate cancer, please visit http://www.pcaw.com or call toll free 866-4PROST8.
About the Prostate Cancer Education Council
The Prostate Cancer Education Council (PCEC) was founded in 1988 and coordinates the national Prostate Cancer Awareness Week (PCAW) program, Sept. 17 - 22, 2007. PCAW was created by the PCEC as a means to offer free or low-cost prostate cancer screenings across the nation. PCEC and the PCAW event strive to educate men and the women in their lives about the prevalence of prostate cancer, the importance of early detection and the available treatment options. As one of the oldest and largest organized screening efforts in the nation, PCAW has helped millions of men receive potentially life-saving screenings in addition to influencing additional research dollars to be earmarked for prostate cancer.
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