WASHINGTON, DC USA (Press Release) - September 2, 2014 -
LUGPA and ZERO Urge Men to Man Up and Go to the Doctor
Today, at the start of National Prostate Health Month (NPHM), professional association representing urology practices in the United States, LUGPA, and patient advocate organization, ZERO – The End of Prostate Cancer, urged patients to man up and go to the doctor.
“Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers among men in the United States,” said Juan Reyna, M.D., president of LUGPA. “Unfortunately, many men have the ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ mentality, giving prostate cancer an undue foothold in men’s overall health. Through our sustained partnership with ZERO, we have made strides to raise awareness about prostate cancer and the value of diagnosis. Diagnosis is the first step to treating the disease, which is most treatable when detected early – but diagnosis is not possible if men don’t get themselves to the doctor.”
The intent of NPHM, occurring every September, is to increase public awareness about prostate health – particularly, about the risk factors associated with diseases like prostate cancer, which is one of the leading causes of cancer death among men in the United States. The joining together of LUGPA and ZERO underscores the importance of communication and collaboration between physicians and patients in their united effort to eradicate this disease.
“Since I joined the fight against cancer over a decade ago, terrific advances in diagnostic imaging, surgical techniques, radiation therapy and novel treatments have reduced the prostate cancer mortality rate by an average of 3.5 percent each year, but there is still a great need for new treatments and new hope,” said ZERO’s CEO, Jamie Bearse. “Working together to raise awareness and education is the first critical step toward achieving our ultimate goal of saving lives and ending prostate cancer.”
Prostate cancer can often be found early, when it is most likely to be cured, by testing the amount of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in a man’s blood.
LUGPA’s Your Numbers Matter campaign aims to help men understand how awareness of their personal numbers, like their PSA-level, play a role in overall health. The initiative encourages men to ask their doctor to check their numbers and serves as an avenue for physicians to maintain open lines of communication with their patients about appropriate testing for prostate cancer and other urologic conditions.
Prostate cancer continues to be the most common cancer in men, accounting for about 1 in 4 new cases, according to data published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. The estimated number of new cases and estimated deaths from prostate cancer both decreased slightly for 2014, by 3 percent and 1 percent, respectively.
LUGPA represents urology group practices in the United States, with more than 2,200 physicians who make up more than 25 percent of the nation’s practicing urologists. LUGPA and its member practices are committed to best practices, research, data collection and benchmarking to promote quality clinical outcomes. For more information, visit lugpa.org.
ZERO – The End of Prostate Cancer is a national nonprofit organization with the mission to end prostate cancer. As a leader in the fight against prostate cancer, ZERO advances research, encourages action, and provides education and support to men and their families. ZERO’s premier programs include the ZERO Prostate Cancer Challenge, the largest men’s health event series in America. ZERO is a 501c3 charity, a Better Business Bureau member and 98 cents of every dollar donated goes to research and programs. For more information, visit www.zerocancer.org.
Large Urology Group Practice Association (LUGPA)
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