Senator John Kerry and Congressman Gregory Meeks Partner with The Prostate Health Education Network (PHEN) for Summit to Address Nation's Alarming Black Prostate Cancer Gap.

BOSTON -- Summit to Convene September 19th - 20th, on Capitol Hill

The Prostate Health Education Network (PHEN), a Boston-based non-profit organization, announced today that it will host the first- ever African American Prostate Cancer Disparity Summit. Senator John Kerry (D-MA) and Congressman Gregory Meeks (D-NY) will join PHEN in bringing this important issue to a national stage. The Summit will convene in Washington, DC, September 19 - 20, 2005, in the Rayburn Building, on Capitol Hill.

"This marks the first time that such a prostate cancer initiative targeting African American men will take place at the national level," said Senator Kerry, a prostate cancer survivor himself. "My office is committed to helping gain Congressional support for solutions to this often overlooked health crisis."

September is recognized as prostate cancer awareness month. To help bring a national focus to this devastating health issue, a prayer service will be held at Metropolitan Baptist Church in Washington, DC, on Sunday, September 18th. Black churches across the country are being asked to offer prayers for a prostate cancer cure on this day as well.

The summit will officially kick-off on September 19th, when prostate cancer survivors, advocates, Black church leaders, researchers and policy-makers will come together to garner and review information on existing programs, and explore new initiatives to address the African American prostate cancer disparity.

"The Power of this Summit is that it will connect leaders within the Black community, medical field, and government, each of whom are crucial in working towards eliminating the healthcare disparity that threatens the well-being of so many Black men," said Thomas A. Farrington, PHEN President and Founder, and also a prostate cancer survivor.

This year, more than 30,000 African American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and 5,000 will die, according to American Cancer Society. African American men are twice as likely (2.4 times) to die from prostate cancer than men of any other racial or ethnic group. However, according to medical experts, prostate cancer is curable with early detection and the proper treatment.

"Prostate cancer strikes the African American community at disproportionately high rates," said Congressman Meeks. "This Summit will help establish the visibility and foundation to increase prostate cancer education and awareness within our communities for this treatable and often curable disease."

PHEN was established in Boston to help save lives and reduce the prostate cancer mortality disparity for African American men. The Organization has successfully implemented a model that formed a unique partnership between prostate cancer survivors, the community, health organizations and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

For more information about the African American Prostate Cancer Disparity Summit and PHEN's education and awareness activities, visit www.prostatehealthed.org.

The Prostate Health Education Network, Inc, (PHEN) is a non-profit 501(c) 3 organization. PHEN was founded by Thomas A. Farrington, a prostate cancer survivor and author of the book, Battling the Killer Within and Battling the Killer Within and Winning. PHEN's mission is to increase prostate health education and awareness among African American men.