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As we enter the second month of the new year, we look forward to building on the strengths of our work in 2023, while exploring new avenues for extending our support of men and families as they journey with prostate cancer.
One of our main activities of the cold-weather months is to complete our schedule of in-person screening and health-related events, many of which will seek to reach men who live and convene in medically-underserved communities. In 2023 we attended over fifty such events, and we are looking to again spread the messages of early detection and responsibility for one’s health in 2024.
The bold and the brave among you are invited to join me on Super Bowl Sunday as I have scheduled the first of what we hope will be many occasions for having a catch. Read on to learn how you can join me on Sunday, February 11 and help raise awareness of what we do and fundraise in support of our work.
Of note, I direct your attention to an important update from our friends and partners at Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU – Long Island. Please see below for details about a new CyberKnife study taking place on Long Island, NY.
Finally, we applaud our charity’s longtime friend and the moderator of our Online Women's Support Group, Karen Shaffer, for leading that ever-growing and evolving group into its fourth year. Thank you for all your hard work, Karen. You and the community you have created continue to make a real difference in the lives of so many women. |
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The Catch (Super Bowl Edition) |
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Fans for the Cure’s founder, Ed Randall, will be hosting a special edition of The Catch on Super Bowl Sunday, February 11, at Flowers City Park (Diamond #1) in New Rochelle, NY. Between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., Ed will have a catch with all brave and willing attendees. Bring your baseball glove and appropriate outerwear – baseballs will be provided.
The event will help raise funds for Fans for the Cure and promote awareness of prostate cancer, a disease for which there are expected to be nearly 300,000 diagnoses in the United States in 2024. For information on how to make a donation in support of The Catch and/or sign up for a catch with Ed, please click on the blue button below or email us at [email protected].
For his part, Randall remains optimistic about the weather and the wisdom of hosting an outdoor baseball event in the dead of winter.
“No guarantees,” said Ed. “But Mr. G’s is saying 75 degrees and sunny.” |
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Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU - Long Island Begins Enrollment in Two-Treatment CyberKnife Study |
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Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU - Long Island Radiation Oncology announced that it has begun enrolling and treating eligible CyberKnife patients with prostate cancer on an IRB-approved protocol that will last just two treatments rather than the usual five. They will also be integrating genomics into this particular study to intensify or deintensify the radiation based on a patient's personalized genomic pattern.
Expect to hear more about this study at the free screening and education day that is being scheduled to take place in NYU's Mineola location in the spring. |
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Awareness/Health Events: April – October 2024 |
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After participating in over fifty in-person community events during 2023, Fans for the Cure is looking to schedule additional wellness events, health fairs, and medical screening days in 2024. These types of community gatherings are generally held by churches, senior centers, food banks, and schools. An important part of our mission is to engage with men and their families where they live and emphasize the importance of taking responsibility for one’s health, especially as it relates to cancer screenings.
We invite community organizations, church groups, and charities to get in touch with us at [email protected]. |
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Stay in the Game Podcasts Feature Michael Milken, Howard Wolinsky |
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Fans for the Cure recently interviewed nationally regarded prostate cancer advocates Michael Milken, founder of the Prostate Cancer Foundation (December), and Howard Wolinsky of The Active Surveillor and MedPage (scheduled to be released this week) for extended conversations on our highly-rated (#5, Feedspot) Stay in the Game podcast. |
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2024 Screenings – Sporting Events (confirmed) |
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April 4: Blues vs. Predators
Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN at 5:30 PM CT
Part of Hockey Fights Cancer. In collaboration with Vanderbilt University Medical Center/Department of Urology.
June 13: Mets vs. Miami Marlins
Citi Field, Flushing, NY at 5:30 PM ET
Piazza 31 Club. In collaboration with NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center.
June 23: Cedar Rapids Kernels vs. Peoria Chiefs
Veterans Memorial Stadium, Cedar Rapids, Iowa at 1:00 PM CT
Main concourse behind 3B. In collaboration with Mercy Medical Center/Department of Urology.
September 12: Yankees vs. Red Sox
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY at 5:30 PM ET, 200 Level
In collaboration with Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center, Bronx, NY. |
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Corporate Education and Prostate Cancer Seminars |
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June (National Men’s Health Month) and September (National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month) are ideal times to remind our employees and their loved ones about the prevalence of prostate cancer (about 300,000 diagnoses in the U.S. this year) and the importance of early detection in achieving best outcomes.
Along with a New York-area urologist from a comprehensive cancer center, we have appeared at several dozen companies with a one-hour presentation that educates attendees about prostate cancer and emphasizes the importance of a blood-test screening for early detection of a disease that presents without symptoms over 90% of the time.
For more information about holding an educational event at your company, please email us at [email protected]. |
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Women's Support Group Turns Three |
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Congratulations to the participants in our Women’s Support Groups. The group is about to begin its fourth year of twice-monthly meetings for spouses and partners who are supporting men at various stages of prostate cancer journeys.
Thank you to our moderator, Karen Shaffer, who is now part of the staff at Fans for the Cure. Thanks, too, to Madison Berger and Marcy Allen, who have provided production and tech assistance with Zoom calls, communications, and registration.
We are pleased to announce that Amy Pearlman, MD, Board-Certified Urologist, will join the Women's Support Group on Tuesday, February 6th for a discussion on pelvic rehabilitation strategies for before, during, and after prostate cancer treatment to minimize penile shrinkage and maximize erection potency, as well as treating erectile dysfunction.
Fans for the Cure thanks Bayer for its financial support of the production costs related to the Women’s Support Group. |
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Upcoming Support Group Meetings |
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Both of our online support groups are free and open to all men and women respectively, with registration required.
Men's Support Group
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Fans for the Cure allows attendees to register for only the immediately upcoming online support group meeting. Thanks for understanding our desire to keep our meetings safe, secure, and private. |
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We thank Bayer for generously underwriting the technical and production costs associated with Fans for the Cure’s Online Men’s and Women’s/Caregivers’ Support Groups. |
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BEGIN THE YEAR RIGHT: MAKE THAT APPOINTMENT WITH YOUR DOCTOR |
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Through our community programs, health events, and local and national outreach, we have established an extensive network of leading urologists, oncologists, and medical professionals with whom we have established relationships and whom we trust with medical referrals.
Should you be seeking a medical referral, we are happy to help connect you with doctors in all areas of the country for testing, second opinions, and guidance explaining treatment options. |
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PROSTATE CANCER ARTICLES OF INTEREST |
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In this section, we share links to blog posts, news articles, medical journals, books, and other items that we think will be of interest to you. |
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Let's Have a Great Year Together! |
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As we move forward in 2024, we are eager to do so with in step with you. Our programs in the support of the prostate cancer community – be they in-person health fairs and screenings, educational events, corporate seminars, online support groups, medical referrals, or our Stay in the Game podcast – require support from our friends and donors. Please give today to help ensure that this is indeed a great year for the men and families that we serve. |
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FANS for the CURE
PO Box 213, New York, NY 10101-0213
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