Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

MAYOR GIULIANI JOINS PROSTATE CANCER SURVIVORS AND NBA STARS TO ANNOUNCE
FREE PROSTATE CANCER SCREENINGS

In Advance of Father's Day, The Drive Against Prostate Cancer Will Conduct
Screenings in Mobile Medical Vehicle Outside ESPN Zone

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today joined current and former NBA stars and several prostate cancer survivors - including Staten Island Borough President Guy Molinari and Herman Badillo - to announce free prostate cancer screenings in the days leading up to Father's Day. The free screenings are being offered as part of The Drive Against Prostate Cancer (The Drive), which has been saving lives since December 1999 by providing prostate cancer screenings around the country to men who might not otherwise have the test performed.

On both Thursday, June 14 and Friday, June 15, from 9am to 5pm, men over 40 can visit The Drive's Airstream Mobile Medical vehicle - a 39-foot recreation vehicle custom designed for prostate screenings - outside ESPN Zone at 42nd Street and Broadway in Times Square.

Also joining the Mayor for the announcement were City Councilmember Marty Golden; Mel Davis, President of the Retired NBA Players Association; Retired New York Knicks players Charles Smith and Tom Hoover; Rob Durkee, Executive Director of the Cancer Research Institute; Winston Dyer, Director of the New York Prostate Cancer Community Outreach Project; Allan Steinfeld, President of the New York Road Runners Club; and Wade Thompson, Chairman of Thor Industries and a prostate cancer survivor who founded The Drive Against Prostate Cancer.

"Aside from skin cancers, prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer among men in the United States - affecting one in six men - but it is a disease that can be treated and beaten, especially when detected early," the Mayor said. "To fight and beat prostate cancer, men should get screened each year. Men should also take steps to decrease the likelihood of developing prostate cancer, such as maintaining a healthy diet and getting plenty of exercise. As a prostate cancer survivor myself, I encourage all men in New York City and around the country to talk to their doctors about this disease."

Wade Thompson, Chairman and CEO of Thor Industries, said, "Our goals are simple: to raise awareness and eliminate the stigma of prostate cancer, encourage early detection and help save lives by providing free screenings throughout the United States."

Rob Durkee, Executive Director of the Cancer Research Institute, said, "The Drive Against Prostate Cancer has already tested about 10,000 men for prostate cancer around the U.S. and in Canada and is a very beneficial complement to our Prostate Cancer Initiative. About 8% of the men tested have had some abnormality with their results that has required further testing. To these 700+ men, the early detection provided by The Drive could literally mean the different between life and death."

Winston Dyer, Director of the New York Prostate Cancer Community Outreach Project, said, "The Drive Against Prostate Cancer's visit to New York is a positive step in helping save lives. There is a lot of prostate cancer research in the field right now, but most importantly, men must first be screened before any of the excellent prostate cancer therapies can be applied. Early detection is critical."

The Drive's mobile medical vehicle, built by the Airstream division of lead sponsor Thor Industries, is equipped with two private rooms for screenings. The vehicle will have trained medical staff available to perform prostate testing and provide educational information. Men can undergo a confidential screening consisting of a PSA blood test and DRE. The testing takes approximately 10 minutes. The Drive will notify patients in writing of the outcome and any necessary follow-up measures.

The prostate cancer awareness activities culminate in the 5K Fight Against Prostate Cancer road race in Central Park on Father's Day, Sunday June 17th, sponsored by the New York Road Runners Club and ABC-7 Television and 77WABC Radio, benefiting the Cancer Research Institute. Live 3-hour coverage of the 5K Father's Day race begins at 7:00 a.m. on ABC-7 television as part of the ongoing annual involvement in ABC-7's Prostate Cancer Awareness Campaign during the month of June. The NBA Retired Players Association has also partnered with The Drive Against Prostate Cancer to help underscore the importance of prostate cancer screenings.

An estimated 180,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year and 37,000 will die of the disease, according to the American Cancer Society. But, if detected while the cancer is still confined to the prostate, the five-year relative survival rate is 100 percent.

About The Drive: Sponsors of The Drive include Thor Industries, Inc., the second largest manufacturer of recreation vehicles (RVs) and the largest mid-size bus manufacturer in North America; UroCor, a leading urology company; Bayer Diagnostics, a major international pharmaceutical company; Endocare, Inc., a leading developer of targeted cryoablation, a primary treatment option for prostate cancer; Cancer Research Institute, a leading non-profit devoted to cancer research; American Italian Cancer Foundation, a non-profit organization involved in cancer research, fellowships, and early detection screenings; Cancerfacts.com, a web site that provides personalized cancer information; US Too!, a nationwide prostate cancer support community; and Airborne Express, a worldwide leader in shipping. Together, these companies are providing all components for prostate cancer screenings including the mobile medical vehicle, diagnostic tests and analysis, patient notification and educational material.