Cancer Survivor Eric Davis to Visit Detroit's Henry Ford Hospital to Promote the Importance of Cancer Prevention.

DETROIT--(BW HealthWire)--June 4, 1999--

While in town competing against the Detroit Tigers, major league baseball player and cancer survivor Eric Davis will pay a visit to Henry Ford Hospital, one of ten sites around the country involved in the National Cancer Institute-sponsored Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian (PLCC) Cancer Screening Trial, with his prevention and education campaign for colorectal cancer. Davis and two Henry Ford physicians will hold a press conference highlighting the importance of cancer prevention as well as personally meet some Henry Ford cancer patients to offer words of encouragement.

Davis was diagnosed with colon cancer in June of 1997 at age 35. Only a month after doctors removed an orange-sized tumor from his abdomen, the right fielder returned to the playing field to a standing ovation from fans, and continued defying the odds. He scheduled his chemotherapy around games for the remainder of the season, capping his dramatic comeback by hitting a homerun in the playoffs. Ironically, Davis was soon given the opportunity to urge his childhood friend and fellow ballplayer, Darryl Strawberry, to have suspicious symptoms examined. Strawberry was also diagnosed with colorectal cancer, which was treated with surgery and chemotherapy.

Grateful for his recovery, in April Davis launched, "Score Against Colon Cancer," a national public awareness campaign to promote colorectal cancer screening. "Score Against Colon Cancer," includes a series of public appearances by Davis at hospitals and cancer centers in 17 cities to educate the public about the importance of screening and early detection of colorectal cancer. Davis has put in place two mechanisms to help facilitate the education process: a website www.scorecrc.com which contains extensive information about colon cancer and a toll-free 877-Score123, where individuals can receive one-on-one counseling from a certified cancer counselor.

Davis has become an inspiration to others battling cancer and to all sports fans. Through it all, he has kept his life in perspective. "Im no different than others with cancer. I just happen to play professional baseball," he says. "Im part of those statistics that cancer has touched as well."

Colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer killer in the United States, causing an estimated 56,000 deaths each year, according to the American Cancer Society. Only lung cancer claims more lives. More than 132,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer this year.

Colon cancer affects men and women equally. African-American men and women are at a disproportionately higher risk than Caucasia-Americans of dying from colon cancer.

While the incidence of colon cancer is similar between the races, death rates among African-Americans are somewhat higher because their cancers are often detected later.

Fortunately, colon cancer is one of the most curable forms of cancer if caught early. Part of Davis' campaign is to encourage early screening. With early detection and treatment, the survival rate for colon cancer approaches 90 percent, making early detection crucial. Treatments for colon cancer include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, depending on the stage of the cancer.

Henry Ford Health System's Josephine Ford Cancer Center was ranked as one of the top cancer centers in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report, July 1998. JFCC members of the Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery treat more than 400 patients annually for colon, anal and rectal cancers. Colorectal surgeons collaborates with Cancer Center gastroenterologists, medical and radiation oncologists and pathologists to provide state-of-the-art-treatment.

Other JFCC studies involve examining whether aspirin can reduce the incidence of colon cancer as well as a study into the role of dietary calcium and vitamin D in the prevention of colorectal cancer.

We hope the media will help us educate the American public about colon cancer. To learn more about the campaign, please visit our website www.scorecrc.com or call the toll-free number 877-score123.

Editors Note: The news conference will be held in front of the Vision Wall of Henry Ford Hospital. Park and enter through the clinic entrance off the John C. Lodge Service Drive just north of West Grand Blvd., Detroit.