Kerry appearance Tuesday at AA Prostrate Awareness Conf.

[TayTay]

-- Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, Sen. John Kerry Join in Support of
African American Prostate Cancer Awareness Summit
-- This two day summit will bring together prostate cancer
survivors, advocates, clergy, researchers and policy-makers to
discuss ways to eradicate the prostate cancer disparity rates in
the African American community
U.S. Rep. Gregory W. Meeks (D-N.Y.) and Senator John Kerry (D-
Mass.), will join in support of Thomas A. Farrington President of
the Prostate Health Education Network (PHEN) and author of the
book, Battling the Killer Within, for a historic Prostate Cancer
Disparity Summit Monday, Sept. 19, thru Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2005, in
Washington D.C. on Capitol Hill, Rayburn Building, Independence and
South Capitol Street, Gold Room.

(snip)

The Summit will include a luncheon on Monday, Sept. 19, at Noon
with Dr. Richard N. Atkins, CEO of the National Prostate Cancer
Coalition serving as the keynote speaker. A reception will follow
at the end of the day's session from 4-6 p.m. in room B338.
Senator Kerry and Congressman Meeks will both deliver remarks on
Tuesday, Sept. 20, with a photo-op slated for 11 a.m. A box lunch
will be served on Tuesday.

[jillan]

1. For personal reasons, I need to ask :(

When Kerry was diagnosed with prostate cancer, do we know what kind of treatment he had? I know that he is cancer free.

My hubby's got it. And he is leaning toward one kind of treatment, but was wondering if anyone knew what Kerry did to get rid of it.

[TayTay]

2. Surgery at Johns Hopkins

And I'm sorry your husband is going through this. I wish him a complete and speedy recovery.

Kerry Undergoes Surgery Today For Prostate Cancer
Congress Daily 02-12-2003

Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., considered a leading Democratic candidate for the party's presidential nomination next year, announced Tuesday that he will undergo surgery this morning to remove what his physician calls a "very curable" form of prostrate cancer.

Kerry, whose father died of prostrate cancer in his 80s, said the cancer and operation will affect neither his Senate duties nor his campaign schedule.

"I think the best treatment will be getting back on the campaign trail," he said. "I feel very lucky. I will be cured."

Earlier in the day, Dr. Patrick Walsh, a urologist at The Johns Hopkins Hospital who pioneered the safest form of prostate removal, said the Massachusetts Democrat should be back at work in a couple of weeks following the surgery.

As for why he chose surgery over other treatments - the option that forced former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani to drop his 2000 Senate bid - Kerry said: "I made a judgment that it would be better to...get the cancer out."

Sen. Bob Graham, D-Fla., who may enter the presidential race after undergoing heart surgery, wished Kerry well in a phone call. Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina and Rep. Richard Gephardt of Missouri also called Kerry. Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, a physician, said, "I have every confidence that he'll come through this well."


Of course, your husband will do what makes sense to him, to you and to your doctors. And again, my sincere and best wishes for a complete and speedy recovery.

[jillan]

3. Thanks for that info. n/t

[sandnsea]

4. I'm so sorry about your husband

I hope he got it early. I remember Kerry talking about it and saying he opted for the most agressive treatment possible. My sister has cancer too, and just finished her chemo and is having a little radiation to get the last of it. She is treating it sort of like an invasion of roaches or something, not taking it personally, just get every last one of those little suckers!! For whatever that's worth. She's such a hoot. She just goes around with her bald head, puts a cap on sometimes when it's too hot for her wig, and just refuses to let it get in her way. Like I say, for whatever that's worth, just want you to know there's hope. And that we're here for you. :hug:

[JI7]

5. i hope the best for your husband and you

[Island Blue]

6. Pirhana, I am so sorry to hear about your husband

Best wishes to him during his treatment and recovery :hug:. If you are interested, here is a link to Senator Kerry's press conference (on Cspan) when he announced his diagnosis, right before he had surgery. There might be some tidbit of info you could glean from this that might help you and your husband out.

rtsp://video.c-span.org/project/c04/c04_021103_kerry2.rm

I just happened to find this the other day because I've just recently gotten DSL (instead of dial-up) and have been like a kid in a candy store watching everything Kerry in the C-span archives.

Again, best wishes to your husband!

[politicasista]

7. I am sorry about your husband.

I wish you and him the best. :hi: I am glad to hear that Kerry is doing this. :)

[jillan]

15. I just saw all of these well wishes.

Thanks everyone!

Too bad my husband is a repug, when I told him Kerry had it, and beat it, he said "that's nice". Maybe I will have to keep telling him about the work Kerry has done on this, and who knows, maybe that will get him to change his party. Ha ha. Senator Kerry - save this marriage:P

[rox63]

22. I'm so sorry about your hubby

I heard that the surgery Kerry had was a newer procedure that spares a lot of the nerve function in that area. So hopefully, he (and your hubby) came through it "running on all pistons".

[politicasista]

8. If anyone's interested

Here is a link to Congressmen Meeks’ interview on the Tom Joyner Morning Show. He mentions Kerry. Tom and the gang didn’t know that Kerry was a prostate cancer survivor, but it’s a nice but short interview.

mms://reachm.wmod.llnwd.net/a79/o1/092005/REPMEEKS.wma

[blm]

9. How could they not know that if they were following the primaries?

The media often uses pictures of Kerry at the beginning of the campaign where he was still undergoing treatment (failing to mention it) and they contrast it with pictures of Kerry tanned and rested much later.

That's how the absurd botox accusation made the rounds.

Hard to believe that people who claim to be engaged in politics and government hadn't heard about Kerry's cancer surgery and treatment.

[politicasista]

11. I don't think Tom and the gang paid attention to the primaries

They always interviewed Bill and Hill, and and other politicians every now and then, but I don't think they knew cause either the media didn't report it or just ignored it until now.

[Mass]

10. John Kerry Addresses African American Prostate Cancer Summit;

Demands Washington Address Racial Disparities

WASHINGTON -- Senator John Kerry (D - Mass.) today focused attention on the alarming death rate of African American men from prostate cancer at the first-ever African American Prostate Cancer Disparity Summit.

Senator Kerry, a prostate cancer survivor, has been an outspoken supporter of prostate cancer awareness and research. He was joined at the event by Tom Farrington of the Prostate Health Education Network and Congressman Gregory Meeks ( D - N.Y.).

"When it comes to prostate cancer, too many African American men are dying in a health care system that fails to respond to their needs," Senator Kerry said. "The tragedy is that we can do better. Survival rates for prostate cancer have increased dramatically in recent years. While one in six American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, early treatment increases the five-year survival rate to 97%. But little effort is made today in outreach to African-American communities to encourage the early detection steps necessary for long-term survival."

This year, more than 30,000 African American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and 5,000 will die from the disease, according to American Cancer Society. African American men are more than twice -- 2.4 times -- more likely to die from prostate cancer than men of any other racial or ethnic group. The two day summit on Capitol Hill features prostate cancer survivors, advocates, Black church leaders, researchers and policy-makers who are coming together to garner and review information on existing programs, and explore new initiatives to address the prostate cancer disparity among African American men.

For more information on PHEN and prostate cancer awareness please visit

###

[beachmom]

12. Since this seems to be a cancer thread, I may as well let you guys

know that I was diagnosed with Melanoma a few weeks ago, and will have surgery next week. I'm the one who found it -- a mole on my arm that started changing shape. I have to say, that earlier this year, every time we discussed John McCain and John Kerry, I kept thinking, gee I should go to the doctor to get that mole checked (probably because of McCain's melanoma). So finally, I did, and luckily, we caught it early so the prognosis looks good. It was stage 1. They are going to biopsy a couple of more moles, but I'm hoping they turn out benign. I'm thinking about writing a nice letter to Sen. McCain if all turns out well, because his talking about Melanoma really was a good public service. Of course, I never would have read what McCain said, if it wasn't because I was desperately looking for references to Kerry in the articles, so a thank you to both senators seems in order.

[jillan]

14. I am soooo glad you are going to take care of that right away!

You know what they say about catching it early.

I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
Please keep us posted!!!
What day are you going to have surgery?

:hug: :hug: :hug:

[whometense]

16. Be well.

Be sure to let us know how you're doing. It's wonderful that you caught it so early.

[whometense]

17. And pirhana,

I'm sorry to be so late wish my good wishes for your husband. I'm sure he will be on his feet and back to normal in no time!!

[karynnj]

18. Best wishes for a speedy recovery

It's good you caught it early - and it's good that McCain's talked about it.

[rox63]

21. Sending prayers and positive vibrations your way

I hope the surgery goes well, and that you are cancer-free going forward. :hi:

[beachmom]

13. Pirhana, I was sorry to read about your husband, and hope that

he comes throught it okay.

I just wanted to add one more thing about JK and prostate cancer. A little time back he (and McCain) wrote their stories on Lance Armstrong's website, and he talked about the lack of healthcare for so many people. The thing about a lot of these cancers is that if you catch them early then the prognosis is very good. But if you don't have health insurance, then you have to think twice before you decide to go to the doctor for a check up, or even to check out a funny looking mole. It really is a matter of life or death, this health insurance thing, and that's reason #2,008 why I support John Kerry, and want him to be president. His healthcare plan would actually SAVE LIVES.

[beachmom]

19. My surgery is on Tues., 9/27

Thanks everyone for all of the nice things you said. I didn't want to dwell on the whole thing, and sort of thought I would keep it to myself, but then this thread came up and it seemed like the right time. The internet is a strange animal, isn't it, since I feel like all of you are my friends, yet I've never met any of you. Anyway, thanks again for the nice wishes, and I'll report back when it's all over, and I'm in the clear. I'm trying to keep it all positive, even if in the dark corners of my mind the "what if this and what if that" keeps trying to sabotage my optimism. Thanks again, everyone.

[TayTay]

23. All the best to you

It's so good you caught it early. You will be in my thoughts and prayers!

:pals:

[sandnsea]

20. Our Moose Lodge did a free screening

My son had a weird bump on his forehead and just put off going to the doctor. But we did get him to go to the free screening, just a cyst. The Lions Club runs a little mobile dealie that tests for diabetes, glaucoma, and hearing. Some other group does free cholesterol tests. So I don't know where all this money comes from, but it does seem like we could have some kind of organized free check-up sponsored by various groups. Would probably save alot of lives.

Hope all goes well with the removal of your mole. I know that's got to be so scary. :hug: