|
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE New York based Malecare, Inc., Prostate Cancer Support Group Expanding to the West Coast in Los AngelesFor Immediate Release: February 1, 2004 Contact: Jim YoppoloPhone: 818-760-1955 Website: www.malecare.org eMail: MalecareLA@aol.com
Los Angeles, CA – New York based Malecare, Inc. will now have a presence in Southern California. Long time prostate cancer patient, Jim Yoppolo of Studio City, is organizing the group under the guidance of Darryl Mitteldorf of Malecare, Inc. Since 1999, Malecare, a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization, has tried to develop practical, life saving programs to address the problem of men dying sooner than women. It is comprised of oncologists, psychologists and social workers facilitating health care programs, free and open to the public. Today, Malecare provides prostate, testicular and male breast cancer support through workshops, lectures, treatment and support groups. The Los Angeles arm of this organization is now in it’s seedling stage with Mr. Yoppolo working to grow it. Volunteers and anyone who is interested is asked to contact Jim Yoppolo at 818-760-1955 or by email sent to MalecareLA@aol.com.
Men get sicker faster and die younger than women. Men outnumber women as victims of violence and on-the-job accidents. Men seem reluctant to see a doctor, and when they finally try to, they face barriers to care. By age 75, American and European men die of cancer at nearly twice the rate of women yet cancer education and prevention is sorely lacking for men. (1) The health of men, worldwide, is deteriorating more and more, every year, due to neglect on men’s part, lack of access to medical facilities, under-funded research in male-specific diseases and other disparities in medical care.
In the United States, inequalities exist for 30 percent of men in the U.S. – African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, Native Americans and others. Men of color have the lowest life expectancies of all Americans: 66.1 years for Native Americans, 67.6 years for African Americans, and 69.6 years for Latinos. African American men die almost 12 years sooner than White American women. For Malecare in the United States, Latinos include Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, and Dominicans. Native Americans encompass numerous tribes. And all include men in need.
Malecare is committed to designing and implementing contextual, culturally sensitive and appropriate health care services, wherever there is need. Barriers are to be broken and the under-served deserve action.
For additional information on the organization, please sign on to www.malecare.org. The site is expanding daily and will soon include information about the Los Angeles Malecare group. Malecare is based in New York City and has a full range of programs that Mr. Yoppolo hopes to bring to Los Angeles. Jim’s reason for getting involved? “I did a lot of fundraising in the 90s for Aid For AIDS and LA Shanti, both in Los Angeles. I found it very rewarding. I actually received my prostate cancer diagnosis on the same day I was hosting a kick-off party at 72 Market Street in Venice for all the people and companies involved in the LA Shanti Wine Tasting & Auction in spring of 1999. After being treated at USC Kenneth Norris (2) Cancer Hospital with radiation and temporary seeds, the cancer looked as though it was dying quickly. However, in 2001, it was obvious the cancer had never left my body as indicated by my rising PSA. I am one of the men who discovered it in my early 40s. Most doctors don’t do PSA tests on men under 50. Last year, I spent six months at my brother’s home in Connecticut so that I could see doctors at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. They confirmed the cancer in my prostate had been irradiated but cells must have escaped the prostate bed before my treatments had started. The term I have heard used a few times is micrometastatic cancer. It sometimes feels like a time bomb I am carrying around.” The first meeting of Malecare, Inc. in Los Angeles will be at 5740 York Blvd. in Highland Park on February 18th, Wednesday, from 7pm to 9pm and is open to all that are interested. The meeting is open to all including gay men who may suffer from prostate cancer or know someone who does. Please join us. Please enter on the side door of the building on Milwaukee. Please ring the bell. For more information, call Jim Yoppolo at 818-760-1955 or contact him via email at MalecareLA@aol.com. (END)
For More Information Contact: |
|
|