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Leading National Prostate Cancer Nonprofit Spearheads Influential HHS Moonshot Meeting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:
Jessica Fetrow, Media Coordinator
jessica.fetrow@zerocancer.org
202-923-1113

ZERO Prostate Cancer to collaborate with Biden administration to minimize prostate cancer deaths and improve experiences of patients and survivors

Cancer Moonshot logo

OCCASION: ZERO Prostate Cancer has been invited to convene a White House discussion on prostate cancer as a part of the Biden administration’s Cancer Moonshot Initiative. Launched in 2016 and re-ignited earlier this year, the Biden administration intends to lead the initiative to reduce the national death rate from cancer by at least 50% over the next 25 years and improve the experience of people and their families living with and surviving cancer.

Representatives from ZERO ( Jamie Bearse, President and CEO of ZERO; Dr. Reginald Tucker-Seeley, Vice President of Health Equity; Alison Manson, Vice President of Government Relations); and prostate cancer survivor Marlon Hudson led a roundtable discussion to increase prostate cancer awareness and access to screening among men of color. Specifically, the discussion sought to educate policymakers, including the President’s Cancer Panel, about the increased risk of prostate cancer among Black men and change the conversation about screening risks and the need for early detection, stimulate increased and coordinated investments in prostate cancer research, and leverage the collective resources of a variety of stakeholders to educate high-risk men about their need to discuss prostate cancer risk with their doctors and advocate for their own health.

The roundtable offered HHS Secretary Becerra four policy opportunities:

  1. Support for investments in research at NIH, DOD, and especially for cancer implementation research at the CDC;
  2. Creation of a federal coordination committee to help move prostate cancer research toward the end of prostate cancer as quickly and efficiently as possible;
  3. Review the discussion of prostate cancer screening in federal patient-facing materials (examples in the background materials) to ensure that those materials encourage patients, especially high-risk men, to receive appropriate and timely screenings; and
  4. Increased support for investment in education and outreach to Black men at CDC.

WHEN: Tuesday, November 29, 2022; Pre-recorded interview soundbites with prostate cancer and health equity experts available on-demand

WHERE: For prostate cancer facts/statistics, expert bios, and interview soundbites (Alison Manson, ZERO’s Vice President of Government Relations, and Marlon Hudson, prostate cancer survivor), please click here.

WHY: Over 3 million men are living with prostate cancer, making it the most commonly diagnosed cancer among American men. Every 15 minutes another American man dies from prostate cancer. That’s more than 94 deaths per day and 34,500 this year. Black men are almost twice as likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer and over twice as likely to die from prostate cancer as White men.

HOW: For additional information, please contact Jessica Fetrow, Media Coordinator at jessica.fetrow@zerocancer.org or 202-923-1113.


About ZERO Prostate Cancer

ZERO Prostate Cancer is the leading national nonprofit with the mission to end prostate cancer and help all who are impacted. ZERO advances research, provides support, and creates solutions to achieve health equity to meet the most critical needs of our community. From early detection to survivorship, ZERO is the premier resource for prostate cancer patients and their families to access comprehensive support, make meaningful connections, and take action to save lives. Our dedicated national and chapter staff is joined with a growing team of passionate volunteer champions to increase advocacy, awareness, and community engagement to ZERO out prostate cancer. ZERO is recognized with four out of four stars by Charity Navigator and accredited by the Better Business Bureau. ZERO spends more on programs than any other prostate cancer charity, dedicating 85 cents of every dollar to support, education, and research.

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