Roswell Park and Partners Launch Prostate Club for Men

BUFFALO, NY – Western New Yorkers are invited to “Aim for a Cure,” a special event at the Walden Galleria Mall on Saturday, September 5, and Sunday, September 6. The event marks the launch of the Prostate Club for Men, a six-month empowerment campaign to raise awareness about the importance of prostate cancer screening and early detection.

The Prostate Club for Men is co-sponsored by the Prostate Cancer Center at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center; WGRZ-TV Channel 2; BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York; and WBEN Radio, 930 AM.

“The Prostate Club for Men will start a conversation about prostate cancer among men and their health care providers, and among men and their loved ones,” said Willie Underwood III, MD, MSci, MPH, Department of Urology, Roswell Park. “The goal is to encourage men to learn about prostate cancer, and, most important, to prevent premature deaths from this disease.”

James Mohler, MD, Senior Vice President for Translational Research at Roswell Park, added, “National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines have been revised this year to focus on earlier detection of prostate cancer in younger men who, if diagnosed with prostate cancer, are more likely to die from the disease. Men are encouraged to discuss prostate cancer screenings with their doctors beginning at age 40. Those at high risk, including African Americans and men with a family history of prostate cancer, should begin annual screening for prostate cancer at that age, while men at lower risk should have a baseline PSA.”

The “Aim for a Cure” festivities will take place near the Lord & Taylor department store and will offer something for everyone. Activities will include:

• Meet the da Vinci™ surgical robotic. Roswell Park surgeons will provide onsite demonstrations and answer questions about the surgical robot, which has assisted surgeons with more than 700 prostate surgeries at Roswell Park.
• Play the prostate cancer quiz game and win prizes.
• Cancer experts will offer information and insights about the latest in cancer treatments and quality-of-life issues.
• Local support groups will be available to discuss their programs and services. These include Women Against Prostate Cancer and Us TOO, along with representatives from WGRZ-TV and WBEN Radio.

More information about the event can be found at ProstatePros.com or by calling 1-800-ROSWELL (1-800-767-9355).

The mission of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center is to understand, prevent and cure cancer. Roswell Park, founded in 1898, was one of the first cancer centers in the country to be named a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center and remains the only facility with this designation in Upstate New York. The Institute is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation’s leading cancer centers; maintains affiliate sites; and is a partner in national and international collaborative programs. For more information, visit Roswell Park’s website at http://www.roswellpark.org, call 1-800-ROSWELL (1-800-767-9355) or email AskRoswell@Roswellpark.org.

-30-