Archive for Activism
Malecare Congratulates “US Too” on 20 years of service.
Posted by: | CommentsFred Mills
Chairperson
Board of DirectorsUS Too, Inc.
Dear Mr. Mills:
On behalf of the Board of Directors, the dozens of volunteers and the many thousands of men whose lives Malecare has been privileged to aid, I offer our congratulations to US Too on its twenty years of service to our prostate cancer survivor community.
US Too’s work in developing and promoting prostate cancer support groups is well known and inspiring. Its education materials and events have proven informative and helpful to many men and their families. And US Too’s recent efforts to collaborate with organizations such as Malecare have validated the power of united action and advocacy. US Too has surely helped to diminish the pain caused to so many by Prostate Cancer. Malecare joins US Too in celebration of its twentieth anniversary, with the hope that someday, soon, we will all see the end of suffering from Prostate Cancer.
Sincerely,
Darryl Mitteldorf, LCSW
Executive Director
Malecare
Men fighting cancer, together.REPLY FROM FRED MILLS
DarrylThank you so much for your nice note about the 20th anniversary event. We appreciate the work that Malecare does and the collaboration opportunities we share. Together we all can make a difference. I will relay your message to our board.Thank you!Fred
Malecare first to announce Jevtana Approval
Posted by: | CommentsMalecare , via Malecare’s Advanced Disease Program Director Joel Nowak , is the first to break the following news:
Hot off the press- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Sanofi-Aventis SA’s new
chemotherapy drug for advanced prostate cancer.
The drug, Jevtana (cabazitaxe) extended by nearly 2-1/2 months the lives of men with prostate
cancer tumors that resist standard treatment with hormones as well as chemotherapy.
The drug will be used after taxotere has failed.
Another break for men with advanced prostate cancer.
Malecare Prostate Cancer Support has new Facebook Page
Posted by: | CommentsMalecare now has an active page on Facebook. Please click here and “like” our Facebook page
or http://tinyurl.com/2amz3xy Help us show the world we are many and strong and worthy of more research for a cure or durable, morbidity free treatment for prostate cancer.
Shine a Blue Light on the White House
Posted by: | CommentsShine a light on Prostate Cancer. Shine a Blue Light. Shine a Blue Light on our country’s leading symbol of democracy, The White House. An idea from Dan Zenka, the PCF”s V.P. of P.R.. Dan is also a 52 year old newly diagnosed prostate cancer survivor. Please send your own email to www.whitehouse.gov/contact, simply asking, Please shine a Blue Light on the White House, this September, for National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Select “Non-policy issue” and “First Family” in the pull down menu.
Homophobic American Cancer Society Officials cancel LGBT cancer event
Posted by: | CommentsThe American Cancer Society’s Pinellas County branch canceled an LGBT-focused Relay For Life that was scheduled for March 21, 2010. As described by the event’s organizer, Bobby Poth, American Cancer Society officials “ were worried about how the general public would react to an LGBT-targeted event [and] allowed personal beliefs to play a role in that fear, etc.”
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered cancer survivors, their friends, family and care givers, deserve complete and unfettered support by all of us, including the American Cancer Society. Homophobia is vile and life threatening, particularly to those who are vulnerable because of ongoing health care treatment. Out With Cancer – The LGBT Cancer Project is our country’s first and leading LGBT cancer survivor support and advocacy national nonprofit organization. We know that prejudice hurts LGBT cancer survivors, diminishing access to appropriate health care, elevating psycho-social stressors and reducing research into LGBT health care disparities. To see our country’s largest cancer survivor nonprofit, the American Cancer Society give in to homophobia, is harmful to all of us.
American Cancer Society Updates Prostate Cancer Screening Guidelines.
Posted by: | CommentsHere is the latest American Cancer Society Prostate Cancer Screening
Guidelines press release.
Please leave comments about these guidelines, by clicking to comment here
Update Reaffirms the Importance of Shared Decision-Making
ATLANTA –March 3, 2010 – Newly updated prostate cancer screening guidelines from
the American Cancer Society reaffirm the recommendation that men should discuss the
uncertainties, risks and potential benefits of screening for prostate cancer before deciding
whether to be tested. Read More→
Malecare Testimony at Congressional Prostate Cancer Hearing
Posted by: | CommentsTo: The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
Re: “Prostate Cancer: New Questions About Screening and Treatment”
March 4, 2010
We wish to thank the Committee for allowing us to present four important issues, on behalf of the thousands of men, their loved ones and their families, whom Malecare serves.
Founded in 1998, Malecare is our country’s first and leading Gay men’s cancer survivor support group and advocacy national nonprofit organization. All who work for Malecare are volunteers. Malecare publishes the worlds’ largest multi-lingual prostate cancer focused website, malecare.org and several online support groups. Read More→
Least Costly Alternative and Medicare
Posted by: | CommentsIrene Hayes, was denied payment of treatment prescribed by her physician and sued in federal court. Medicare had decided to only pay for the Least Costly Alternative (LCA), a treatment that her physician thought inadequate. As explained in the appellate court’s decision, under that policy, Medicare provides reimbursement for treatments only up to the price of their “reasonably feasible and medically appropriate” least costly alternatives. She won in federal district court, Medicare appealed the decision, and she won again in the Court of Appeals. Read More→
Prostate Cancer Petition
Posted by: | CommentsYesterday, Doug Ulman from the Lance Armstrong Foundation delivered 65,000 signatures, from survivors and supporters of all kinds of cancers on a Peitition.
Our Petition to Make Prostate Cancer a National Priority has an amazing 16,000 signatures. The most successful prostate cancer grass roots effort in over ten years! Soon, I will be meeting with our leaders in Congress and the White House to ensure the voices of prostate cancer survivors are heard.
Will you help us reach our goal of 20,000 names? It only takes a moment to sign your name and share it with your friends, and every single name makes a difference: Sign your name and send the petition to your friends and family:
http://www.prostate cancerpetition. org
Where we stand on Prostate Cancer research funding is simple, and this is the critical moment to make your voice heard.
KEYS TO A SUCCESSFUL CONGRESSIONAL VISIT
Posted by: | CommentsKEYS TO A SUCCESSFUL CONGRESSIONAL VISIT
“WHAT TO EXPECT, WHAT TO DO AND NOT DO”
1. Have a message. Know what you want and be prepared to ask. Hill meetings can be quite short so it’s key to get to the point and make your point clear and concisely.
2. Meetings on the Hill can and will take place anywhere – in a Senator or Member’s office, in a committee hearing room, in the hall or in the reception area – don’t be surprised.
3. Expect interruptions, tardiness, canceled and rescheduled visits. Expect mistakes in scheduling, bells ringing, early departures and changes with whom you were expected to meet.
4. Visits should be scheduled with sufficient time to account for late meetings, to allow time to get from one place to another and you should expect down-time between meetings.
5. Dress professionally or in attire that reflects your affiliation with a larger group.
6. Your meeting should be planned to last no longer than 15 minutes – you may have the opportunity to go longer or you may be allotted less time.
7. Make your most important points clearly, succinctly and specifically.
8. Be interesting, informative and political. Relate your story and why the issue is important to you and other constituents like you.
9. Be honest, candid and relaxed. Use a conversational tone in your presentation – don’t be defensive or argumentative.
10. Expect a neutral reaction – Senator, Members and staff are rarely in the position to make firm commitments. A favorable response is a commitment to “do the best possible.” A more likely response is “we will consider your position”. Don’t be surprised by the lack of interest or negative response.
11. Don’t respond by being argumentative to a negative reaction.
12. Express appreciation to the person you are visiting for the time spent and the opportunity to present your case.
13. Remember, be prepared and equipped to state the reason for your visit: if you want action taken what action, and when or for whom, and why.
Have Fun and Good Luck!