Inland Empire Men’s Health Summit: Celebrating Positive Contributions of Black Men

Eric Andrew, prostate cancer SURVIVOR, & member, Los Angeles Men of African Descent, Dr. V. Diane Woods, CEO, African American Health Institute-SB County. Photos by John Coleman; Community Photography X; aka: C P Time(s) (909) 307-5835

Tim Adams, SURVIVOR (left) underwent surgery for prostate cancer in MAY, 2010 , & Samuel Coleman, SURVIVOR; (right) underwent a course of radiation treatments in August, 1991

June 24 , 2010

SAN BERNARDINO – On June 12, 2010, the African American Health Institute (AAHI-SBC) in partnership with the Inland Empire Concerned African American Churches (IECAAC) presented the Inland Empire Men’s Health Summit. The event was held at the Temple Outreach Community Center, located at the T. Hughes Memorial Building, 1777 West Baseline in San Bernardino. “June is a very warm month. It was a great time to celebrate Black men during the month of Father’s day and Juneteenth,” said Dr. V. Diane Woods, President and CEO of AAHI-SBC. For 10 years, Black men in the Inland Empire have been working on a prostate cancer prevention research project with Dr. Susanne Montgomery (Director of Health Center Research at Loma Linda University) and Dr. Woods, the project director.

Over the time of the project 14 different male groups have been involved including the Inland Empire Concerned African American Churches (IECAAC). The summit was designed to bring all the male groups together to publicly receive the toolkit they developed as a result of this research project. In addition to the IECAAC, other groups included the J W Vines Medical Society, Victor Valley African American Chamber of Commerce, American Cancer Society, Mt. Olive Masonic Lodge #71, Saint Andrews Masonic Lodge #16, Prince Hall Masonic Lodge #17American Legion #710, Arrowhead Elks Lodge #896, High Desert Masonic Lodge #107, King Solomon Masonic Lodge, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Men of African Descent, Westside Action Group, and the African American Health Institute of San Bernardino County. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in American men; lung cancer is number one (American Cancer Society [ACS],

Cancer Facts & Figures for African Americans 2009-2010, 2009). According to ACS, in 2009 an estimated 27,130 cases of prostate cancer occurred in African American men, accounting for 34% of all cancer diagnosed in African American men. The National Cancer Institute and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) report that across all racial and ethnic groups, African American men have the highest risk of dying from prostate cancer. Ongoing research is needed to better understand why African Americans continue to die from prostate cancer more than any other group. “This is why the Men’s Health Summit was so great,” said Dr. Woods. “It is a positive effort on the part of Black men to work on their health, as individuals and as a group.”

Black men from all over the Inland Empire have been participating in a prostate cancer prevention research project to find answers and solutions. While there are always options, there must be improved ways to get people to use their options. One option is for individuals to understand the condition and what to do to reduce risk for developing the condition, and what to do if the condition occurs. The development of the PCaP Toolkit provides another option. PCaP is Prostate Cancer Prevention. This kit includes what Black men in the Inland Empire believe are “tools” they need to make better decisions about prostate cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment. The kit provides “tools” for men to better understand what they are dealing with; and “tools” to help them have a meaningful conversation with their physician and/or healthcare provider.

“Every man on the planet needs the information that’s in this toolkit,” said a 52 year old Black male attendee at the Summit. Dr. Eric Andrew, a prostate cancer survivor and the leader of the Men of African Descent (MOAD), an American Cancer Society support group said, “We made the information simple and easy to understand. No man wants’ to be ignorant. We need to know what we know.” The IECAAC has participated in this research project from the very beginning. Pastor Turner stated “after using the information in the toolkit, you don’t feel afraid anymore because you understand what’s going on. When you understand, you can make better decisions. This is one critical decision that will help save your life.”

All 14 groups at the Summit received their personal toolkit. Men gave testimonies and shared their experiences with prostate cancer. All men were challenged to use the toolkit to help other men. Several great ideas were expressed and commitments were made for immediate implementation. Over the past 10 years the following funders have supported this project: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Association of Schools of Public Health, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Loma Linda Center for Health Research, the Loma Linda Center for Health Disparities Research and Molecular Medicine, the Morehouse School of Medicine, the Medical Society of the Bahamas, The California Endowment, The California Wellness Foundation, and Kaiser Foundation, Fontana Medical Center. Additional funds are needed to create and mass distribute the PCaP Toolkit. Special acknowledgement is given to Olivia Swift-Ford, MHA, RN, Chair of the AAHI-SBC Cancer Committee, who has worked on this project from its development through out its implementation; Alton Garrett, member of the AAHI-SBC Cancer Committee; Diane Wayne, RD, for pilot testing the nutrition section; Dr. David Marsh, urologist, for pilot testing the physician’s section; and all the men and women who participated in the development and pilot testing of the decisionmaking curriculum. If you have any questions about this research project, or would like to participate in using the PCaP Toolkit please contact Dr. Woods at the African American Health Institute of San Bernardino County, (909) 880-2600, or visit www.AAHI-SBC.org.

-Staff Reports

 

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