NEW YORK, Oct. 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Honoring one's Hispanic heritage is about more than just celebrating your roots, it is about bringing awareness of issues that affect your community. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among Hispanic man, affecting 1-in-7 during their lifetime. Dr. David Samadi, chief of urology at Lennox Hill Hospital in New York City, is urging Latin women to have the men in their lives get a simple blood test as a way to screen their prostate health.
Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141021/153338
Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141021/153339
"If caught early, prostate cancer can often be contained and a man can continue to have a healthy and active quality of life," said Dr. Samadi. "But it is a silent disease with few symptoms, so getting screened annually after age 35 is essential to combatting it."
The American Cancer Society expects that 11,300 Hispanic men will be diagnosed each year with prostate cancer.
Last month, Dr. Samadi launched the #SamadiChallenge on Facebook to encourage women to have a man in their lives get their PSA (prostate specific antigen) and testosterone levels checked. They then had to post a video or photo on the Women for Prostate Health Facebook page and challenge three other women to do the same. The challenge has gone viral over Facebook.
"Statistics show that 70 percent of all medical decisions in a household are made by women," said Dr. Samadi. "Women are the gatekeepers of health for their families. They are the ones who encourage men to come to my office.
According to the American Cancer Society, the Hispanic population tends to develop cancer at an earlier age than the Caucasian person. The median age of Latin person at diagnosis is 62 years, compared to 68 years in Caucasians.
Dr. Samadi launched Women for Prostate Health, a non-profit organization, to educate women on men's health issues, particularly dealing with the prostate or sexual function. Prostate cancer, low testosterone and erectile dysfunction are key ailments the organization focuses on.
"Prostate health is not just about prostate cancer," said Dr. Samadi. "The Women for Prostate Health website focuses on all men's health issues including low testosterone and low libido, sexual dysfunction, prostatitis and enlarged prostate. All of these can affect HER life directly or indirectly. So I ask all women out there it is time to step up and keep your men healthy so you can have a better life."
Dr. David B. Samadi is the chairman of urology and chief of robotic surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital. His office is located at 485 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10022. Appointment can be made by calling 212-365-5000.
Women for Prostate Health is a non-profit organization working to bring together and support women who are caretakers to the men in their lives, using their passion and determination to further funding, advocacy, and education of prostate health and male sexual function issues. For more information visit its website at womenforprostatehealth.com or on Facebook.
Media Contact:
Faith Ann Butcher
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