Pro Baseball Goes to Bat Against Prostate Cancer

Campaign focuses on risks factors for men

(HealthDay is the new name for HealthScoutNews.)

WEDNESDAY, July 16, 2003 (HealthDayNews) -- It's called "Take a Swing Against Prostate Cancer" -- a high-profile campaign pitched by Major League Baseball and a national prostate cancer advocacy group to raise awareness about the second-leading cause of cancer death in American men.

The campaign, launched at the All-Star game last night in Chicago, included a ceremonial throw from Jamie Bearse, vice president of the National Prostate Cancer Coalition. By his side was Tampa Bay Devil Rays Manager Lou Piniella, a spokesman for the campaign.

Throughout the season, Major League Baseball's Web site will carry information about prostate cancer. Blue ribbons, symbols of prostate cancer awareness, and baseball cards with prostate cancer risk checklists will be distributed at ballparks in September, which is National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.

The Web site will feature a "Manager's Move of the Week," in which fans can view video clips of three plays and vote for the manager who made the best strategic move during a crucial point in a game. Fans will be entered into a sweepstakes to win a pair of VIP tickets to a 2003 World Series game or one of 50 baseballs signed by Piniella.

Contest participants can get a second entry in the sweepstakes by filling out an online checklist that helps identify risk factors for prostate cancer, based on age, race and family history.

Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith, another spokesman for the prostate campaign, says he hopes it prompts more men to get screenings.

"As men, sometimes we get a little leery and squeamish about getting checked for personal things like this," says Smith, a former St. Louis Cardinals shortstop. "But you know you don't have to be ashamed of it because early detection is the greatest weapon that we probably have against prostate cancer."

Smith says he'll be visiting five Major League ballparks to throw out the first ball and help spread the message about prostate cancer.

The awareness campaign focuses on risk factors. According to the National Prostate Cancer Coalition:

  • One of every six American men will get prostate cancer in his life.
  • If your father or brother had prostate cancer, you have a one in three chance of getting the disease.
  • If two close relatives had prostate cancer, you almost certainly will.
  • Black men face a 60 percent higher risk of prostate cancer than white men, and they have twice the mortality rate.
  • There may not be any warning signs or symptoms of prostate cancer.

As a 48-year-old African-American, Smith says he tries to reduce his risk of getting prostate cancer with screenings two or three times each year.

Screening for prostate cancer takes less than 10 minutes. The American Cancer Society recommends annual screenings for men 50 and over -- and screenings starting at 45 for blacks and men who have a close family member with prostate cancer at an early age.

Dr. Richard Atkins, president and chief executive officer of the National Prostate Cancer Coalition, says the new campaign focuses on making men aware of the risk of prostate cancer.

Speaking of prevention and early detection, Atkins says, "none of these are meaningful to guys who don't know anything about prostate cancer."

"The first rule about prostate cancer awareness is risk, risk, risk," he says, adding that men who know about the risk will seek more information on prostate cancer.

Major League Baseball provides an ideal medium for getting the word out, Atkins says.

"It's the national pastime -- as the national pastime it conveys an important message," he says. "I think having two great legends in baseball -- Lou Piniella and Ozzie Smith -- carries the message particularly well, to guys who are ordinarily reluctant to pursue their... prostate health status."

More information

For more on prostate cancer, visit the National Prostate Cancer Coalition or the American Cancer Society.

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