ANN ARBOR, MI--July 28, 1998--Bob Novak, prostate cancer survivor and CNN commentator, is the keynote speaker at the upcoming 1st International Prostate Cancer Symposium for the Patient, the largest-ever forum for patients and their families to learn the latest advances in both traditional and alternative prostate cancer treatments. The symposium will be held this Saturday and Sunday, August 1-2, at the University of Michigan Power Center in Ann Arbor.
"Prostate cancer doesn't discriminate; it strikes all men evenly--rich and poor, strong and weak. A man who is educated about prostate cancer, its symptoms, risk factors, detection and most importantly, treatment alternatives, has the best chance of beating this potentially devastating disease," says Novak, a survivor who was diagnosed in 1991.
Prostate cancer is the second most frequently occurring malignancy in American men (after skin cancer). It represents one-quarter of all newly diagnosed cancer cases and is the second leading cause of cancer death among men. The American Cancer Society estimates that 184,500 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in the United States in 1998 and that over 39,000 men will die from the disease.
Until recently, prostate cancer was barely discussed in open forums or by the media. Now, it is far more common to see men speaking candidly about their own battles with the disease. Fortunately, the publicity surrounding well-known prostate cancer survivors like Senator Bob Dole, General Norman Schwarzkopf, and now Bob Novak, has spurred public interest in the disease and the urgent need for widespread information. As with most men diagnosed with prostate cancer, Novak's diagnosis came as a complete surprise. For treatment, he was given two choices--radiation treatment or surgical removal of the prostate gland (and cancer), known as a radical prostatectomy. Now, more therapies are available for treating prostate cancer than ever before, and new drugs, technologies and approaches are being investigated every day. Unfortunately, many men with the disease do not know--or are not informed--of all the treatment options available.
"Because of its portrayal of both conventional and alternative methods, the University of Michigan symposium is an excellent resource for unbiased, cutting-edge information on treating the disease," says Hank Porterfield, CEO of US T00!, a prostate cancer patient support organization with more than 500 local chapters that helped organize the event. "I'm pleased to see medical experts, advocates, survivors and patients coming together in a national forum to discuss the most effective weapons against prostate cancer. This symposium is a perfect complement to the information that US TOO! support groups are providing on a regional and local basis and will help spur broader discussion about men's health issues."
Determining the most appropriate prostate cancer treatment depends on a number of individual factors including age, general health, lifestyle, and the stage at which the tumor is diagnosed.
"There are two very important elements we need to keep top of mind when deciding on an appropriate treatment for prostate cancer: the stage of disease at diagnosis and the effect on a patient's quality of life," said James E. Montie, MD, Section Head of Urology, University of Michigan Health System, and symposium presenter. "Prostate cancer doesn't mean a death sentence. More options exist today then ever before and offer patients effective treatment, low side effects and reduced impact on quality of life, such as sexual function."
Some of the topics presented at this weekend's symposium include:
-- recent medical advances, such as hormone therapy, cryosurgery and radiation seed implants;
-- the role of diet, nutrition, herbs and supplements;
-- gene therapy and other promising treatments now being tested; and
-- impotence and incontinence treatments.
In addition to treatment options, the symposium will feature the effects of prostate cancer on spouses and loved ones, sexual issues, and live demonstrations of alternative therapies, such as acupuncture, meditation and healing touch.
In addition to US TOO! International, endorsers of the symposium include the American Cancer Society, the American Foundation for Urologic Disease (AFUD), CaPCure, Matthew's Foundation for Prostate Cancer Research, and National Prostate Cancer Coalition (NPCC). The meeting is sponsored by the U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center and the U-M Section of Urology and is supported by an unrestricted grant from Zeneca Pharmaceuticals.
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