— The summit will focus on the next chapter in prostate cancer screening, increasing participation in clinical trials, challenges of educating and mobilizing Black communities on prostate cancer issues —
Boston, MA — The Prostate Health Education Network (PHEN) will host its Twelfth Annual “African American Prostate Cancer Disparity Summit,” on Thursday, September 15th, from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., at the United States Capitol Visitors Center, (Room HVC 201AB) and on Friday, September 16th, at the Washington Convention Center (801 MT. Vernon Place NW, Washington, DC 20004, Room 144C), as part of the Congressional Black Caucus’s (CBC) 16th Annual Legislative Conference, from 9:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m. This year’s Summit will include the sessions: Prostate Cancer Early Detection PSA Testing – The Next Chapter; Increasing African American Participation in Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials; and Meeting the Challenges of Educating and Mobilizing Black Communities on Prostate Cancer Issues.African American men suffer the nation’s largest prostate cancer burden with incidence and mortality rates 60% and 150% higher than all other men. Now in its twelfth year, The African American Prostate Cancer Disparity Summit convenes prostate cancer survivors and leaders within medicine, research, government industry, as well as the community, to address policy and medical issues towards eliminating this racial disparity.
“We are excited to host our Twelfth annual African American Prostate Cancer Disparity Summit,” said Thomas A. Farrington, PHEN founder and president. “Our focus this year is ensuring that black men are included in the quickly evolving next chapter for prostate cancer early detection screening, participation in clinical trials, and education and awareness initiatives.”
During the Summit, Ken Griffey Sr., three-time baseball All-star and spokesman for Bayer’s Men Who Speak Up campaign will speak about his experiences as a prostate cancer survivor who lost four uncles to the disease and whose brother was recently diagnosed. Other confirmed speakers include: Summit host and Congressional Black Caucus member, Representative Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY); Wesley Coleman Grand Sire Archon, Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity (Boulé); Edith Mitchell, MD, Professor of Medical Oncology, Thomas Jefferson University and Immediate Past President of the National Medical Association; Ruth Etzioni, PhD, Affiliate Professor, Biostatistics and Health Services, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research, University of Washington, Coordinating Principal Investigator, CISNET Prostate Cancer Group; Lannis Hall, MD MPH, Director of Radiation Oncology at Siteman Cancer Center, Barnes Jewish Saint Peters, and Clinical Trials Leader of the Program to Eliminate Cancer Disparities at the Washington University School of Medicine; and Steven R. Patierno, PhD, Deputy Director, Duke Cancer Institute, Director, Cancer Control and Population Sciences.
In 2012, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommended against using the PSA test for prostate cancer early detection. During Thursday’s Summit session, “Prostate Cancer Early Detection PSA Testing – The Next Chapter” panelists will examine the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force’s (USPSTF) research plan for updating its recommendation, with an emphasis on how it addresses African American and other prostate cancer high-risk populations. The Thursday afternoon session, “Increasing African American Participation in Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials” will address the lack of a statistically significant number of African American men participating in prostate cancer clinical trials and outline specific steps to increase participation.
The second day of the Summit is hosted by Congressman Gregory W. Meeks, as part of the Congressional Black Caucus’s 16th Annual Legislative Conference, taking place at the Washington Convention Center. The session is titled “Meeting the Challenges of Educating and Mobilizing Black Communities on Prostate Cancer Issues” and will focus on education and awareness initiatives targeting African American communities. Panelists will review and assess the impact of certain efforts towards changing the culture and action around prostate cancer for men and their families.
Click here for full Summit Program Overview and Schedule.
The African American Prostate Cancer Disparity Summit is Free and Open to the Public and will be webcast live on the PHEN website: www.prostatehealthed.org. Summit sponsors include: Astellas, Medivation, Amgen, Janssen, Bayer, CyberKnife; Genomic Health and Dendreon.
About PHEN
The Prostate Health Education Network (PHEN) is the leading patient education and advocacy organization addressing the needs of African American prostate cancer patients and survivors. About 1 in 5 African American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime; with the highest prostate cancer incidence and mortality rates in the United States. Based in Quincy, Mass., PHEN, a 501(c)(3) organization, was founded in 2003 by Thomas A. Farrington, a prostate cancer survivor. PHEN Initiatives include monthly live educational webcasts, the Annual Father’s Day Rally, educational symposiums with church partners, and the Annual African American Prostate Cancer Disparity Summit in Washington, DC. For more information, visit PHEN’s website: www.prostatehealthed.org.
PRESS CONTACT:
Tomeeka Farrington
617-423-0040
Tomeeka@spotlightcommunications.net