I play many roles in my life and in my work. I am part of the scientific advocacy team at Janssen Biotech. I’m a former oncology nurse. I am a member of Johnson & Johnson’s Veteran’s Leadership Council. And, I’m also the daughter, wife and mother of men who have served in our country’s military. These are just a few of the reasons I’m so proud and honored to help my company launch a new campaign -- Show Your Stripes for Prostate Cancer Awareness -- to educate and support veterans and their families about prostate cancer. There are lots of reasons this campaign is important. Did you know:
- Among the general population, approximately one in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime. It’s the second most common cancer next to skin cancer and the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths among American men.
- Approximately two-thirds of the cases of prostate cancer occur in men over the age of 65, or approaching it, and nearly two-thirds of male U.S. veterans are in this age group.
- And, prostate cancer not only impacts the men in our lives, but it can affect his family, friends, and loved ones.
Show Your Stripes for Prostate Cancer Awareness has teamed up with three advocacy groups dedicated to providing prostate cancer support and information to veterans: Men’s Health Network (www.menshealthnetwork.org), US TOO International Prostate Cancer Education & Support Network (www.ustoo.org) and Vietnam Veterans of America (www.vva.org), in the interest of raising awareness and helping to provide support to veterans and others who are affected by this disease. To support this campaign, you can visit our website (http://www.myprostatecancerroadmap.com/veterans-show-your-stripes) to pledge your support. When you do, Janssen Biotech, Inc. will make a donation to Men’s Health Network, Us TOO International Prostate Cancer Education & Support Network, or Vietnam Veterans of America. We are also thrilled to have worked with legendary NASCAR® driver, team owner, and prostate cancer survivor Richard Petty and retired Army Colonel Artie Shelton, MD, also a prostate cancer survivor on a special new Public Service Announcement (PSA). To raise awareness about the campaign, you can watch the video below and share it with your social networks to spread the word!
Joanne Vanak is Senior Director of Medical Affairs Scientific Advocacy for Janssen Services, where she leads oncology, nephrology and immunology scientific advocacy. Joanne has been with the Johnson and Johnson Family of Companies for 15 years, in clinical roles including Medical Science Liaison and Field Director, Oncology. She an extensive background in oncology nursing and has worked in various hospital and clinical settings. She has been recognized for her leadership role in nursing, including being a finalist for D.C. Nurse of the Year. Joanne is an active member in the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) and is an active member of the Johnson & Johnson Veterans Leadership Council employee resource group. She is a co-founder of the newly formed Janssen Nursing Innovation Council of Excellence (NICE) employee resource group.