Kurt Gelfand is on a quest to make September the month of blue to help bring awareness to prostate cancer just as women have designated October the month of pink to spread awareness about breast cancer.
Already, September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.
After experiencing prostate cancer firsthand, Gelfand founded Save Our Dads, a prostate cancer awareness group formed with the goal to force men to think about prostate cancer and their health.
Gelfand was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2011 after successfully fighting bladder cancer in 2009 and 2010.
He had prostate cancer surgery in November, and while researching the cancer, found that the numbers between breast cancer and prostate cancer were similar and wondered why nothing was being done to alert men to the seriousness of prostate cancer.
Each year in the U.S., 39,000 women die from breast cancer, and 30,000 men die from prostate cancer, according to research.
Diagnosis rates of prostate cancer among men are approximately 241,000 each year, where diagnosis rates of breast cancer among women are 221,000. One out of every six men is at risk of prostate cancer, and it is the second leading cause of death for men in the U.S., according to www.cancer.org. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women in the U.S.
“Breast cancer awareness is global, it’s enthusiastic, it’s everywhere and prevalent. Women have done an unbelievable job promoting breast cancer awareness,” Gelfand said. “(Prostate and testicular cancers are) an untold story. (Men don’t) want to talk about it.
“This is a difference between the sexes. Guys are closed-lipped, and they don’t want to hear about it. ... Guys are embarrassed because we talk about things like incontinence, erectile dysfunction and wearing sanitary pads, and that’s embarrassing for a guy. I’m just trying to bring it to the surface.”
In August, Gelfand was awarded the Fastbreak Inspirational Award for Save Our Dads during the third annual Suits and Sneakers Gala at the University of Georgia. The award recognizes someone who has either battled cancer or worked to further the cause to help find a cure for cancer and give others hope.
In his acceptance speech, Gelfand told the story of his three-year battle with bladder and prostate cancer, and urged all men to take the time to get screened for prostate cancer.
He also stressed that anyone can end up in his position because, despite the fact that he never smoked a cigarette, watched what he ate and exercised religiously two hours a day, seven days a week for decades, he still has had to undergo cancer treatments.
“For someone who’s so health-conscious, I’m still eaten up with cancer. It’s not selective — anyone can get it,” he said.
Insensitivity toward prostate cancer was another subject he addressed.
“The number of comments that came from people, like ‘Prostate cancer is the easiest cancer to have, the best cancer to have’ ... are insensitive to make,” Gelfand said. “It has not been easy. It’s been the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”
Save Our Dads is in the grassroots stages right now, but after his speech was recorded and uploaded to YouTube, Gelfand began to see some momentum in his movement and now is looking for help to make Save Our Dads a more recognizable organization.
“I need people to help me get this going. I can’t do this by myself,” he said.
Gelfand would like to join forces with the medical community in Athens and see free prostate screenings offered to men. Staff with the American Cancer Society offered to help him after hearing his speech at the gala, and he said would like to join forces with them and see advertisements for prostate cancer awareness spread worldwide just as they have for breast cancer awareness.
“I want to see how they (made breast cancer awareness so popular),” he said. “I want to emulate them.”
The Prostate Cancer Foundation also has expressed an interest to help the Save Our Dads movement.
Gelfand continues to heal from the complications of prostate cancer surgery, and so far this year his tests have all come back clear. For the first time in three years, he can say he is cancer-free.
“Get to the doctor. All it takes is a simple blood test and a digital rectal exam, which is embarrassing for a guy, but that’s all it takes, and it could save a man’s life. It’s so easy,” Gelfand said.
For information about Save Our Dads, email email@example.com. To see the video of his speech at the Suits and Sneakers Gala, visit onlineathens.com.