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Business & Tech

Pro Football Hall of Famers Team Up to Fight Prostate Cancer

Former Bears star Dan Hampton will speak at free prostate health event on Jan. 22 at Lincoln-Way West High School, hosted by Silver Cross Hospital and Advanced Urology Associates.

As football fans get excited for the run-up to the Super Bowl, Silver Cross Hospital, Advanced Urology Associates, the American Urological Association (AUA) Foundation and the National Football League are encouraging men to “Know Your Stats About Prostate Cancer®.”

Over 45,000 men in Illinois are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year, making it the second-leading cause of cancer death in American men.

A sponsored article by Silver Cross Hospital

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Led by Pro Football Hall of Fame player and prostate cancer survivor Mike Haynes, fans and NFL players across the country can join the team at www.KnowYourStats.org to help spread the word about prostate cancer and the importance of knowing your risk factors. The national campaign is focused on turning awareness into action by encouraging men to talk with their doctors about their risk for prostate cancer. 

Now in its fourth year, the campaign is bringing the message to fans across the country, educating men and their loved ones about prostate health.

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Dan Hampton to Speak at Lincoln-Way West

Know Your Stats has joined Silver Cross Hospital and Advanced Urology Associates to host a Free Men’s Prostate Health Event on Tuesday, Jan. 22, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Lincoln Way West High School Performing Arts Center, 21701 S. Gougar Rd., New Lenox.  Bears legend and Hall of Famer Dan Hampton and Dr. Thai Nguyen, Urologist and Medical Director of the Robotic Surgery Program at Silver Cross Hospital, will provide critical health information to men ages 40 and older, encouraging them to talk to their doctors about their urologic health and prostate cancer risk.

Hampton will be available to sign memorabilia and pose for photos after the program. There also will be a door prize drawing for a signed Dan Hampton Throwback No. 99 Jersey and Chicago Bears Tailgating package. Men also can sign up that night for a free prostate cancer screening, which will be held at a later date inside the NEW University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center at Silver Cross Hospital

Screenings will be performed by physicians from Advanced Urology Associates. Men and women who register to attend this event before Jan. 20, 2013 will be entered in a drawing to win Bears tickets for a 2013 season game. All winners must be present on Jan. 22 to receive prizes. Register to attend at www.silvercross.org or call 1-888-600-HEAL (4325).

Prostate Screening Saved Mike Haynes' Life

NFL great Haynes is one of the many men who has benefitted from early detection due to prostate cancer testing. Before his diagnosis in 2008, prostate cancer was the last thing on his mind.

"I was shocked to learn that one in six American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime, and that African-American men are at a higher risk for developing prostate cancer and more than twice as likely to die from the disease," Haynes said.  "I’m pleased that we can be part of the Silver Cross event to urge men to get off the sidelines, take charge of their health and stay in the game for life."  

In 2007, the AUA Foundation joined forces with the NFL Player Care Foundation, an organization focused on the health issues of retired players, to educate retired players about their prostate cancer risk. The NFL Player Care Foundation was created to address health and quality of life issues encountered by retired players.  

Prostate cancer is most treatable when caught early. The American Urological Association recommends men get a baseline prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test at age 40 and talk with their doctors to create a prostate health plan based on lifestyle and family history. PSA helps detect prostate cancer; men who are screened at age 40 establish a baseline score that can be tracked over time.

Men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer should know that not all prostate cancers require treatment, and that not every treatment is perfect for every man. If you are diagnosed with prostate cancer, talk to your doctor about what your treatment options are and which one may be best for you.

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