Giving a Voice to Men with Metastatic Prostate Cancer: Awareness Reception at Queen’s Park on September 27, 2012

TORONTO, September 20, 2012 – In recent years, prostate cancer awareness and research has made significant headway with global educational campaigns focused on prevention and survivorship; however, less attention has been given to prostate cancer in the advanced stages – for men whose cancer has spread, or metastasized – and who are running out of time.

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and on Thursday, September 27, the Canadian Cancer Survivor Network (CCSN) will host its first breakfast reception at Queen’s Park to help raise awareness about metastatic prostate cancer and offer support to this patient population that is often overlooked.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer to afflict men in Canada and approximately 26,500 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer annually.i Once the tumour spreads beyond the prostate, there are very few treatment options available for these men. As recent advances offer these patients and their caregivers the value of time, promise and hope, the province must continue to take action to improve the support available for this patient population.

Please join us at this breakfast reception, featuring:

• Jackie Manthorne, President and CEO of the Canadian Cancer Survivor Network, who will provide an overview of prostate cancer in Canada and the unique challenges faced by the metastatic prostate cancer population.
• Dr. Sandeep Sehdev, a medical oncologist who will share his experience in treating metastatic prostate cancer and the changing treatment landscape.
• Ron Grant, a Cornwall resident living with metastatic prostate cancer who will share his action to promote the very best standard of care, support, follow up and quality of life for patients and survivors. It aims to educate the public and policy makers about cancer and encourage research on ways to alleviate barriers to optimal cancer care in Canada.

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For more information, or to arrange an interview with Jackie, Dr. Sehdev, or Ron, please contact:

Marsha Rosenberg

416-849-3192 (O)

647-834-8889 (C)

Marsha.Rosenberg@edelman.com

References

i

Canadian Cancer Society. Available at: http://www.cancer.ca/Canadawide/About%20cancer/Cancer%20statistics/Stats%20at%20a%20glance/Prostate%20cancer.aspx?sc_lang=en.

Last accessed August 24, 2012.