Editor's Note: The following is from Robert Bazemore, Jr., President of our Centocor Ortho Biotech, Inc. company.
Recently, I had the honor of meeting Gordon Kenyon, an incredibly brave, young individual with late-stage, metastatic prostate cancer, who was accompanied by his wife, Kim. They recounted how tests for an unexpected back injury ultimately revealed that he had prostate cancer-induced bone fractures. The unanticipated and devastating news about advanced prostate cancer turned his life upside down, as he and his family were immediately faced with a host of decisions.
Since his diagnosis, this former Marine, tri-athlete and father of three young children has undergone several treatments in an attempt to win the upper hand over the disease. His wife gives the term “pillar of strength” new meaning, seeking out the latest information and resources while he focuses on maintaining his health and providing for the long-term needs of his family. His captivating story impressed upon me the need for new treatment options as well as the critical role of education and support services to manage the baggage that accompanies this disease.
Prostate cancer is often misunderstood. About 32,000 men are estimated to die this year from the disease in the U.S. alone – enough men to fill approximately 400 metropolitan buses, including standing passengers – or 77 Boeing 747-400 airplanes. It’s also the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men in the United States. Yet, despite these staggering numbers, there’s often the misperception that prostate cancer is less dangerous than other cancers.
Legendary golf champion and prostate cancer survivor Arnold Palmer joins Centocor Ortho Biotech and Us TOO to launch My Prostate Cancer Roadmap, a special resource for advanced prostate cancer patients and their loved ones. My Prostate Cancer Roadmap helps these patients and those who care about them navigate, via a GPS format, a plethora of issues related to the disease, including health and wellness, work and relationships – as well as more difficult topics, such as sex and intimacy. This resource offers two paths – one for men with advanced prostate cancer and the other for family, friends and caregivers – to help address their related, but unique, needs.
In honor of National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, I invite you to join our journey to raise awareness of advanced prostate cancer by visiting My Prostate Cancer Roadmap and sharing it with the men in your life.