Georgia Prostate Cancer Coalition aims to save men’s lives in Georgia

8/13/2014

Nearly 240,000 men nationally will receive a prostate cancer diagnosis in 2014; that is almost five sellouts at Turner Field. That’s also one in every six men, and one in four African–American men. Georgia has the 4th highest per capita death rate due to prostate cancer, which is why the Georgia Prostate Cancer Coalition formed in 2000.

GPCC is a nonprofit volunteer organization consisting of survivors or family members of survivors who are passionate about eliminating deaths due to prostate cancer in Georgia. Members have experienced the disease and wish to contribute to the wellbeing of the communities where they live, work, or worship by sharing their knowledge and experience.

“Our mission is to communicate clearly and often that prostate cancer is curable if detected early,” said Frank Catroneo, Georgia Prostate Cancer Coalition Treasurer and head of Public Relations. “We want to eliminate prostate cancer deaths in Georgia.”

Members work to educate Georgians that early detection is the key to a cure. It is a well-known fact that many men avoid screening. They fail to realize that prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men, and it is often hereditary. “Men should die with it, not because of it,” said Catroneo.

The coalition has worked with many healthcare providers around the Atlanta area to provide free screenings. A menu of choices is available online at GPCC’s web site.

Each year, September is the month when prostate cancer receives heightened awareness. Please do what you can next month, in particular, to raise awareness of early detection of this disease.

Additionally, the Prostate Cancer Foundation works closely with Major League Baseball, and in the case of the Atlanta Braves, there is usually a Father’s Day tie-in. Be on the look out next June for Braves game details highlighting prostate cancer awareness.