Activists

The Traveling Mamas highlight a different nonprofit organization every month to spread the word about charities that do good work to enhance the quality of life of people around the world. Some are international groups, others are in our own backyard.

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

pcflogo_homeIf my young husband can be diagnosed with prostate cancer, yours can, too.

I thought prostate cancer only afflicted Grandpa-types — you know, old men. But my husband, at age 42, was diagnosed with the disease in June. He had zero symptoms; what tipped us off was a simple $25 blood test he had at our local health fair. Turns out, his blood had a high level of PSA (prostate-specific antigen) — unusually high for someone his age. Two doctors’ visits, more blood tests and a painful biopsy later, and we got the diagnosis no one wants to hear.

Our story, I know with all my heart, is going to end well because we found out about and treated the disease early. I strongly believe that with awareness, comes power, and that’s why I and my fellow Mamas support September as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, as well as the good work that the Prostate Cancer Foundation does in researching a cure for prostate cancer and otherwise educating the public about the disease.

The Prostate Cancer Foundation’s website was my first stop to learn more about the prostate and the cancer as soon as my husband was diagnosed. A few facts from the PCF:

  • The prostate is a little, squishy, walnut-sized gland that sits below the bladder (I won’t go into details about what it does, for fear of using terminology that will upset the Google gods, but please click here for more info!)
  • Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in America. It affects 1 in 6 men.
  • As men increase in age, their risk of developing prostate cancer increases exponentially. Although only 1 in 10,000 under age 40 will be diagnosed, the rate shoots up to 1 in 39 for ages 40 to 59, and 1 in 14 for ages 60 to 69. More than 65% of all prostate cancers are diagnosed in men over the age of 65.
  • The cure rate for prostate cancer is very high because most cases are caught in the local or regional stage. Nearly 100% of men whose cancer was diagnosed and treated early will be disease free in five years. (Yay!)

The American Urological Association now recommends that PSA screening — again, a simple blood test — should begin at age 40, instead of age 50. I fully, whole-heartedly embrace this recommendation. I shudder to think if my husband was diagnosed at 50 than at age 42. What would have happened if the cancer grew for eight more years? Would it have been too late for a successful treatment?

The bottom line is this: If you are a man age 40 or above, talk to your doctor about prostate-cancer screening. If you are a woman married to a man who is 40 or above, encourage him to talk to his doctor about prostate-cancer screening. Heck, talk to your dad, your uncle, your butcher, your mailman about prostate-cancer screening (or at least send them to the chock-full-of-information Prostate Cancer Foundation website).

The more we talk openly about this disease, the more men will get diagnosed earlier — allowing them to live long and healthy lives.

–MountainMama Kara Williams

Previously Highlighted Nonprofits:

The Alliance for Children’s Rights
The Alliance for Children’s Rights runs several programs to help children and families in need in Los Angeles County. It goes beyond community education, helping with legal services, and advocacy: The Alliance works for a greater change in the ways children in need can have those needs met in the world. There are over 300,000 children in need of legal guardianship in the greater Los Angeles area alone. This link makes it easy to help the Alliance improve the lives of children.

The Skin Cancer Foundation
Sun safety is important. It’s so easy to avoid skin cancer, yet it’s the most common type. The Skin Cancer Foundation funds awareness, medical training and research, and public education. And, on National Skin Cancer Awareness Month, we are happy to donate to this useful foundation. This link makes it easy.

Heifer International
April is “Pass the Gift” month for Heifer International. People across the United States are sharing what Heifer International is doing to improve the living standards of less fortunate families. The Traveling Mamas are promoting this with TypeAMom.net and BookStorePeople.com.  Please read this Traveling Mamas Give Back post for details.

Solar Cooker Project at Jewish World Watch
A solar cooker made of tin foil and a cardboard box costs only $15, and helps refugees boil water to sterilize and cook food. More than 250,000 refugees who fled the Darfur genocide live in camps, and women who receive these solar cookers improve the lives of their families. The Traveling Mamas support the Solar Cooker Project.

Five & Alive
Five & Alive, a program of Population Services International (PSI), provides children and their families with the education, products, services and care needed to improve health and save lives in more than 30 countries.

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