FRIDAY, Sept. 19, 2003 (HealthDayNews) -- Kim Garretson knows all too well that prostate cancer is no laughing matter. But he's hoping humor will raise awareness about the disease and help save lives.
Garretson, a prostate cancer survivor, has founded a non-profit organization called the Mans Gland Campaign to help get the word out about the disease and encourage men to be screened.
"I'm astounded at the percentage of men who have not a clue about the function or importance of the prostate," says Garretson, a 52-year-old Minneapolis marketing specialist for a major retailer.
"In informal polling, I think it could be upwards of 80 to 90 percent of men who, if you ask them what is the importance and function of your prostate, you get blank stares... Because they've never read about, talked about or thought about their prostate."
Garretson has altered the covers of old pulp fiction magazines, which, along with short captions, convey messages about the prostate and its health. The covers appear on the campaign's Web site.
One, called "Danger Signal: A Tale of Love Torn Apart By Trips to the John," shows a man embracing a woman and saying, "Will you excuse me, darling? I have to pee again." The little word bubble above her head shows she's thinking, "Maybe it's BPH" -- benign prostate hyperplasia, or enlargement of the prostate.
Then there's "Doc Digital: The Case of the Wiggling Digit," in which a man stands in the doorway near the shadow of a gigantic hand. Too many men, the caption says, avoid prostate check-ups because of the digital rectal exam.
The campaign will soon feature "Gland Man," a costumed character who will make public appearances and be a guest on radio talk shows; distribution of humorous yet informative materials through the Internet, in print publications and at public events; and a toll-free information number that will feature a humorous recording with a serious underlying message.
The campaign, whose board of advisors includes owners of public relations and advertising firms, hopes to reach 20 million people this year, Garretson says.
Ignorance about the prostate, the walnut-sized gland at the base of the bladder, and about screening for prostate cancer is rampant, Garretson says. Not so long ago, he counted himself among the ignorant.
He recalls complaining about frequent urination -- a sign of possible prostate cancer -- at age 48. He had digital rectal exams, but not a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, which detects blood levels of a protein produced by the prostate gland.
Still, when his wife and father asked about whether he had had a PSA test, Garretson said he had. In reality, he says, "I had no idea what they were talking about, much less whether I was getting that exam or not."
Finally, when he turned 51, he got the PSA, and it showed alarming results. He, in fact, had prostate cancer and had his prostate removed at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota last year.
Now he hopes to spare others the same ordeal by increasing awareness among men -- and their wives, who often help encourage men to get to the doctor.
"Our campaign has simple messages," Garretson says. "They're about awareness of the importance of and function of the prostate. They're about making sure you're getting the proper screening and setting aside silly or ridiculous behavior, like avoiding going to the doctor because you don't like the digital rectal exam."
More information
To learn more about prostate cancer, visit the National Prostate Cancer Coalition. To check out some of the materials in the Mans Gland campaign, click here.
