ZEROHour Newsletter: June 2022

June: Make Your Health a Priority

June is Men's Health Month. It is also Pride Month, and we have just celebrated Father's Day. All of these important events offer great opportunities for men to focus on themselves and take stock of their own health. This month promotes wellness through healthy eating, exercise, mindful living, and maintaining regular doctor check-ups. With prostate cancer being a major concern for men as they age, it is important to know about prostate cancer testing, what PSA numbers mean, and when to start screening.

Men, you should be having an ongoing dialogue with your doctor about this, and if you are already getting regular tests at your check-up, be sure to stay on top of your results. If you would like to do something for Men's Health Month, you can simply forward this newsletter to the men in your life to promote their own health awareness. Please suggest they subscribe to ZERO to keep up with the latest.

ZERO offers support groups for all of those affected by prostate cancer, including a support group for gay men and their partners (all LGBTQIA+ welcome). Consider getting involved with a support group where you can get and give valuable information with others in the community.

Recent State Advocacy Wins

On Thursday, June 9, the New Jersey Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing on Bill S-791. The bill, introduced by State Senator Troy Singleton, would remove cost barriers such as copays and deductibles for prostate cancer screenings in New Jersey, including follow-up testing. We are happy to report that the Commerce Committee approved our bill unanimously! The bill will now be moved along in the legislative process.

And on Friday, June 10, Illinois Governor Pritzker signed into law HB 5318, a similar bill to the one in New Jersey. It was introduced by State Representative La Shawn K. Ford and passed both chambers in late April. HB 5318 will save the lives of countless men in Illinois, and is a major win for all of us. A huge shoutout to ZERO's James Hutson for attending the signing and his eloquent remarks about how important this bill is for our community.

Special Match Ends Soon: Double Your Impact for Patients in Need

Don't miss your opportunity to have your gift matched this month to help patients like Ted Healy, an Oregon-based husband, father, and advanced-stage prostate cancer patient. Because of the generosity of people like you, patients in need can get personalized help to secure critical financial and emotional support.

At press time, we have raised almost $175,000 of our $200,000 goal which, once reached, will trigger a matching fund to double the impact for Ted and many other struggling patients who urgently need your help. Will you be part of giving hope and help to patients today?

Register for a ZERO Run/Walk in Your Community

In-person ZERO Prostate Cancer Run/Walks are BACK! Register today for one of our 46 community events. There is no cost to attend. Join us this month and in August for a Run/Walk near you! You will love the support and camaraderie that you will find at these events. All funds raised will go to help patients and families in need.

Sunday, June 26, 8:45 a.m. Pacific Time
Portland, OR Run/Walk
Register

Sunday, June 26, 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time
Rockland County, NY Run/Walk
Register

Saturday, August 6, 7:30 a.m. Central Time
Omaha, NE Run/Walk
Register

Saturday, August 20, 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time
Lehigh Valley, PA Run/Walk
Register

Saturday, August 20, 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time
Cleveland, OH Run/Walk
Register

Sunday, August 28, 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time
Morgantown, WV Run/Walk
Register

Join a Webinar

June 22, 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time
Prostate Health: Early Detection, Treatment and Resources You Should Know
with Dr. Alexander Engelman, Medical Director of Radiation Oncology at Florida Urology Partners
Presented in partnership with Florida Urology Partners, Tampa General Hospital Cancer Institute, and Janssen Oncology
Register

June 23, 7:00 p.m. Pacific Time
CyberKnife / Stereotactic Body Radiation
with Dr. Donald B. Fuller, Genesis Healthcare
Presented by Prostate Forum of Orange County
Click to join on June 23, 7:00 p.m. Pacific Time

July 20, 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Genetics Town Hall
Presented in partnership with Myriad Genetics and the PROMISE Study
Register

July 27, 6:30 p.m Eastern Time
Prostate Cancer and the Unique Needs of the LGBTQIA+ Community
with Dr. Anne Katz, Certified Sexuality Counselor and Clinical Nurse Specialist at CancerCare Manitoba
Register

August 3, 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Bring Your Advocacy Home
with Susan Sweat from Cornerstone Government Affairs, and Ali Manson and Hal Berger from ZERO
Register

In case you missed these events, video is now available for:

A Special Two Part Series to Help You Reduce the Impact of Treatment Side Effects:

Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment Options for Erectile Dysfunction and Incontinence (Part 1 of 2)
with Dr. Michael Granieri, Urologist, Conrad Pearson Clinic
View the video

Prostate Cancer Treatment Options and Risk Mitigation for Radiation Therapy (Part 2 of 2)
with Dr. Albert Chang, Radiation Oncologist, UCLA Health
View the video

This two part series was brought to you in partnership with Boston Scientific

PSMA PET Imaging for Prostate Cancer
with Dr. Tomasz Beer
Brought to you in partnership with Lantheus
View the video

2022 American Society of Clinical Oncology Genitourinary Cancers (ASCO GU) Symposium Research Updates
with Dr. Alexandra Sokolova
View the video

What prostate cancer support and education events are happening this month? Check the calendar. The Prostate Cancer Calendar web page is a resource for the entire prostate cancer community. If you have a support group, webinar, seminar, or other prostate cancer event that will benefit the community, you can post it right to the calendar.

Read Doc Moyad's "No Bogus Science" Column

For over 15 years and almost 200 consecutive columns, Dr. Mark A. Moyad of University of Michigan Medical Center, Department of Urology has volunteered to write for Us TOO's Hot SHEET newsletter with the hopes of offering some very practical advice to improve health outcomes. In the latest issue, he looks at the importance of exercise for kidney health, prostate health, and overall health.

Progress in Prostate Cancer Research

Progress in Prostate Cancer Research is a ZEROHour feature that includes some of the latest research from the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF). In this month's column, Bipolar Androgen Therapy: Cycling Testosterone Shocks Cancer Cells, we highlight a new therapy which might benefit those with castration-resistant prostate cancer.

New Resource: Find a Screening Facility

If you are in need of free or low-cost prostate cancer screening, you can find a facility near you. Using a new resource on the ZERO website, you can enter your address and find local options that offer testing. But don't go before you know ahead of time about what a PSA test is and what your test results might mean. Read about PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) testing. To find a facility or get more information on their free or low-cost screenings, click the link below.

Continued Medical Education Hours for Medical Professionals

ZERO partners with Medscape to offer Continued Medical Education (CME) credits for medical professionals working in prostate cancer. The next session, Optimizing Outcomes in Patients with Metastatic Hormone-Sensitive Prostate Cancer, takes place Wednesday, June 22, 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. This session is for medical professionals only. For more information on the course, to register, or to access previously recorded classes, click the link below.

Tee-Off Against Prostate Cancer

The Tampa Tee-Off, a new event, took place on May 15. The event raised $13,000 and had a great turnout. Thank you to host partners Florida Urology Partners and Tampa General Hospital.

The Des Moines Tee-Off on June 6 raised $38,000 and had over 120 golfers participating in the shotgun start tournament with their teams. Thank you to presenting partners: Urology Center of Iowa, Kia of Des Moines, and Broadlawns Medical Center. Special thanks go out to Bill Miller and Diane Ellis who worked hard to put the event together. Our Tee-Off events will pick back up in the Fall, so keep an eye out for info.

COMMUNITY Support Groups ZERO's Us TOO Prostate Cancer Support Groups meet regularly. Many of these groups meet virtually and these meetings can be accessed by phone or by internet, and can be attended from any location. Other groups are meeting in person or offer a hybrid of virtual/in-person meetings. » Find a support group. Did you know that ZERO has an Us TOO Support Group in Barcelona, Spain? The group is led by Professor Jorge Estape and Dr. Tania Estape, and meets in person the second Thursday of the month at 10:30 and 2:00. » Visit the Spanish language website.

CHAMPIONS CORNER Meet Team Poindexter Team Poindexter has been a part of the SEA Blue Chicago Run/Walk Community since 2008 and has raised over $16,000 for prostate cancer. Yvonne Poindexter, the Team Captain, lost her husband Henry in 2014 to prostate cancer. His father, as well as his uncles, were all also diagnosed with the disease. After Henry's diagnosis in 2001, Yvonne's sister-in-law pushed for PSA testing in the family and Yvonne's brother was diagnosed the same year and passed away in 2019. Since then, a younger brother has been diagnosed, as well as a nephew. Yvonne says, “We recognize that support is an important element of living with this illness. Education is important. Research is important. Advocacy is important. And the funds raised from all of the national events is important. So having Team Poindexter as a Champion that will include my children and their spouses AND my grandchildren AND all of the family and friends who have supported us over the years, is truly an honor.”» Join Team Poindexter at the SEA Blue Chicago Run/Walk

SURVEY Help Us Better Understand Patient Needs Researchers at Duke University are partnering with ZERO and Pfizer Oncology to better understand the needs of prostate cancer patients. Take the survey to help address possible gaps in patient education, goals for treatment, shared decision-making, and access to care. Patient insight will help build programs, develop initiatives, and improve patient access in order to produce better outcomes for all people impacted by prostate cancer. » Click here to take the survey

STUDY Participate in Research There's a new study on the inherited genetic factors' impact on prostate cancer risk and treatment. The PROMISE registry study seeks to learn more about the roles genes can play in improving outcomes for prostate cancer patients. » Learn more(This content is provided in partnership with the PROMISE Registry Study.)

SUPPORT Become a Caregiver Mentor ZERO's Caregiver Connector program is a one-on-one support program where prostate cancer caregivers are matched with other caregivers looking for support as they go through the cancer journey. Many participants in the program have gained tremendous support and help in coping with a loved one being diagnosed with prostate cancer. Being a mentor is a fulfilling role because it's a chance to use your experiences to give back to those in similar shoes. ZERO is in need of caregiver mentors at any stage, but particularly for those who are partnered with someone with Stage IV disease and caregivers of those with Stage I prostate cancer. » Learn more

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