General Colin Powell Speaks Out For Prevention

Esteemed Prostate Cancer Survivor Named Prostate Conditions Education Council Spokesman As a prostate cancer survivor, General Colin Powell is doing his part to inform men across the United States of the importance of prevention.

In 2003, the former Secretary of State underwent surgery for prostate cancer and made a full recovery. Since that time, General Powell has contributed his time to Prostate Conditions Education Council, a non-profit that each year sponsors Prostate Cancer Awareness Week (PCAW).

This year PCAW is scheduled between September 14-20, 2008. The program providees free or low-cost screenings for millions of men across the United States. To advise men of the importance of yearly screening, General Powell will relate his personal story through national public service announcements on both radio and television.

“Early detection is the best weapon we have against this silent killer,” notes General Powell. Prostate cancer is nearly 100 percent survivable if caught in its earliest stages, yet remains the second leading cause of cancer death in American men. More than 230,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year. With more annual cases of prostate cancer than that of breast cancer among women, screening is imperative to ensure the health of the men of our nation.

PCEC recommends a baseline screening for men 35 years of age and older.  Prostate Cancer will take the lives of nearly 30,000 men this year. General Powell, along with PCEC’s founder, Dr. E. David Crawford and TAP Pharmaceutical Products hope to decrease that number to nearly zero in years to come.

“Every three minutes an American male discovers he has prostate cancer. This is a staggering statistic, but palatable when tempered with early diagnosis when the disease is at its most curable stage.”

Screenings during PCAW take about 10 minutes and include a Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test and a Digital Rectal Exam (DRE) done by a trained professional.

To find a PCAW screening site near you and for more information on prostate cancer, please use Screening Site Finder or call toll free at 866-4PROST8.