AdMeTech Highlights Prostate Cancer as Health Disparity During National Awareness Month

BOSTON, Sept. 3, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AdMeTech Foundation will observe National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month during September by hosting two educational events and a Twitter Town Hall, all aimed towards improving early detection and treatment of prostate cancer, which are critical for saving lives.

AdMeTech Foundation is joining forces with Dr. Roberto Miranda, Senior Pastor of the Congregation León de Judá and Founder of the Fellowship of Hispanic Pastors of New England, State Representative Jeffrey Sánchez (D—Jamaica Plain) and Boston Health and Human Services Chief Felix Arroyo to combat prostate cancer as a health care disparity in Boston's Hispanic community. On Sunday, September 20, educational sessions will be integrated with Sunday morning services at Congregation León de Judá between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. and afternoon services between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. Free individual, family and group consultations on screening, diagnosis, and treatment will be provided between 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.

"The current mortality rate in the Hispanic men in Boston is 40 percent higher than the state average. In the African American community, prostate cancer is 2.5 times more lethal than in the Caucasian population. This situation is unacceptable in our own city that has some of the world's best hospitals," said Dr. Faina Shtern, CEO and President of AdMeTech. "According to the recent data from the National Cancer Institute, breast cancer mortality in black (including Hispanic) women is no longer significantly higher compared to white women in our state. Our goal is to create a Massachusetts model of national leadership in ending prostate cancer as a health care disparity."

"At Leon de Juda, we see our collaboration with AdMeTech as a great opportunity to convey the message that we have to take good care of our bodies as well as our spirits," said Dr. Miranda. "There is no conflict between solid faith and good medical care".

"We need to take a stand as a Hispanic community against prostate cancer, which disproportionately affects our men," said Sánchez. "It is fitting that we have these difficult conversations about our community's health during Hispanic Heritage month. I look forward to engaging in honest dialogue and education about what we can do together to prevent prostate cancer."

"Latinos over the age of 50 are less likely to be screened for prostate cancer, and we need to change that statistic," Arroyo said. "I'm grateful that AdMeTech is hosting this much-needed event and I encourage Latinos in Boston to come to Leon de Juda on September 20 to get information on staying healthy."

On Saturday, September 26, AdMeTech will present a prostate cancer workshop to the delegates of the Annual Meeting of the New England Area Conference of NAACP, held at the DoubleTree Boston Bedford Hotel in Bedford. During the workshop, Dr. Shtern will discuss prostate cancer care as a major health care disparity in black men and the emerging life-saving advances in patient care.

"Prostate cancer is a central issue to men's health, with unacceptably high mortality in men of color," said Juan Cofield, NAACP New England Area Conference President. "Prostate Cancer Awareness Month is about education and awareness, which makes it possible to bring cutting-edge advances in patient care to every man, including the most vulnerable and the underserved."

Consistent with Prostate Cancer Awareness Month's focus on raising awareness of prostate cancer, AdMeTech Foundation will host a "Twitter Town Hall" on Tuesday, September 15 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., during which online users can ask Dr. Shtern questions about prostate cancer, and their options for screening, diagnosis and treatment. Using @manogram, Dr. Shtern will answer questions that are labeled #PCAMQandA.

The Prostate Cancer Awareness Month events and the Twitter Town Hall are components of a multi-faceted statewide prostate cancer education and awareness campaign supported by the state's legislature, funded by the Department of Public Health and led by AdMeTech Foundation in cooperation with key medical experts, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Massachusetts Prostate Cancer Coalition, the NAACP's New England Area Conference, and YMCA's Men of Color Health Awareness. The campaign is focused on men at high risk of prostate cancer and seeks to save lives, improve quality of life, and reduce health care costs.

About AdMeTech Foundation: A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, based in Boston, MA, AdMeTech Foundation established the Manogram® Project, providing international leadership for groundbreaking programs in research, education and awareness to expedite advancement of diagnostic tools for screening, early detection and treatment of prostate cancer (www.admetech.org).

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SOURCE AdMeTech Foundation

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