Legendary Coaches Herm Edwards, Dick Vermeil, and Bill Cowher encourage men to get screened
The National Football League Alumni Association (NFLA) and Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA) will feature legendary NFL coaches Herm Edwards, Dick Vermeil, and Bill Cowher in a series of "Prostate Pep Talk" public service announcements to raise awareness of prostate cancer risks and encourage men to get screened for the disease.
The PSAs will run throughout September, Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Edwards, Vermeil and Ron "Jaws" Jaworski, former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback, current ESPN analyst and NFLA Chairman of the Board, will share their personal stories and provide members of the media an exclusive preview of the campaign during a virtual press conference at 9:15 a.m. EDT on Monday, Aug. 29.
"I know several colleagues and friends who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer," Edwards said. "First, the former owner of the Kansas City Chiefs, Lamar Hunt, who sadly lost his fight, and my father-in-law who was diagnosed eight years ago and had prostate surgery. So, we're hoping this campaign will raise men's awareness of the need to get screened."Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men in the U.S.
- Nearly one in seven men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.
- African-American men are 60 percent more likely to be diagnosed.
- The American Cancer Society estimates that 181,000 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2016.
"African-American men are disproportionately affected by prostate cancer," Sean Cavanaugh, MD, chief of radiation oncology at CTCA at Southeastern Regional Medical Center in Atlanta, said. "Although the reasons for the disparity have not been positively identified, it is believed that a combination of genetics, lifestyle, and the quality and frequency of medical care all play a role."
"What we do know," Cavanaugh said. "is that screening is the first defense against prostate cancer. That's why we are proud to partner with the NFLA to raise awareness about the importance of screening, as well as advances in screening techniques, diagnosis and treatment options for prostate cancer."About the NFL Alumni Association
The NFL Alumni Association is a nationwide group of former National Football League players, coaches and other employees whose mission is to serve, assist and inform former players and their families. The association offers a variety of medical, financial and social programs to help members lead healthy, productive and connected lives, as well as community initiatives under its "Caring for Kids" programs. For more information please visit nflalumni.org.
About Cancer Treatment of America
Cancer Treatment Centers of America Global, Inc. (CTCA), headquartered in Boca Raton, Fla., is a national network of five hospitals that serves adult patients who are fighting cancer. CTCA® offers an integrative approach to care that combines advancements in genomic testing and precision cancer treatment, surgery, radiation, immunotherapy and chemotherapy, with evidence-based supportive therapies designed to help patients physically and emotionally by enhancing their quality of life while managing side effects both during and after treatment. CTCA serves patients from around the world at its hospitals in Atlanta, Chicago, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Tulsa. Consistently rated among U.S. hospitals that deliver the highest quality of care and patient experience, CTCA provides patients and their families with comprehensive information about their treatment options and encourages their active participation in treatment decisions. For more information, visit: cancercenter.com, Facebook.com/cancercenter and @cancercenter.
