Black Caucus To Host DC Cancer Summit

BOSTON  -- The Prostate Health Education Network, Inc. (PHEN) announced today that it will host its "Seventh Annual African American Prostate Cancer Disparity Summit" in Washington from September 22- 23, 2011, at the U.S. Capitol and Washington Convention Center.

This year's theme is "Saving Lives: Strategies for Eliminating the African American Prostate Cancer Disparity." The Summit will kick-off on Sept. 22 at the U. S. Capitol and continue on Sept. 23 at the Washington Convention Center, where Congressman Gregory Meeks (NY) will host the event as an official part of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Annual Legislative Conference.

"In the seven years that we have held this Summit, PHEN has made incredible progress," said Thomas A. Farrington, president & founder, PHEN. "We have succeeded in mobilizing a national coalition of prostate cancer survivors, medical, industry, political and community leaders, who are all working towards eliminating the African American prostate cancer disparity."

More than 30 speakers and presenters are slated to appear at this year's Summit, who will assess various efforts to help eliminate the African American prostate cancer disparity - the largest racial disparity for any type of major cancer, as well as map strategies for new activities in the fight against prostate cancer.

Bishop Adam Jefferson Richardson, Jr. of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, and Dr. Carroll A. Baltimore, President of the Progressive National Baptist Convention, will take part in this year's outreach strategy discussions. PHEN works annually with hundreds of Black churches across the nation, as part of its Rally Against Prostate Cancer (RAP Cancer) activities. Many of these churches host their own outreach sessions, Father's Day activities and health and wellness programs. They also tune into PHEN's monthly webcastss, which isare broadcast from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. All of these Rally activities are aimed at reaching communities at the grassroots level, to help educate and support Blacks, who are most disproportionately impacted by prostate cancer.

"We will present some exciting plans for building increased community outreach with our Rally partners, and therefore encourage our church partners and others who want to join in, to send representatives. We are looking forward to broadening our community outreach by working with fraternities, lodges and other organizations," said Farrington.

PHEN addresses most aspects of prostate health educational needs, including awareness, early detection screening, treatment options, clinical trials participation, and survivorship issues. The 2011 Summit program will cover these critical areas, as PHEN teaches that knowledge is the best defense against prostate cancer.