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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (May 3, 2000)
May 3, 2000 ^Portland (Dbseruer Paye A3 ^lorthxnò (Observer Health/Education Breast cancer hits men, too Ç oN lIU BLTED S IORV A patient o f N orthw est C ancer Specialists, James Lowery turned his tragedy into a bridge o f awareness as he had educated and supported others, with male breast cancer. Diagnosed with the disease last year, Low ery helped form a m onthly support group called Bridging the Gap: Male Breast Cancer Awareness Group which meets the first Thursday ofeverym onthat7pm . in the Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital, 1040 NW ■22nd Ave., Conference Room D. The first group o f its kind in the United States, the support group encourages men to talk about breast cancer and learn the truth about it being a difficult diagnosis. “ Because it’s uncommon in men, many men will be informed not to worry about a lump or swel ling,” said Teresa Lyons, the wife ofbreast cancer victim Dave Lyons. According to the American Cancer Society, this year some 1,400 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 400 men will dieofit. Both Lowery and Dave Lyons noticed lumps in their breasts years before it was diagnosed. And for Lyons part o f the struggle was finding a doctor who would take him seriously. Luckily for Lowery, once he saw a physician, he received a mastectomy w ithin w eeks and chem otherapy about a month later form Northwest C a n c e r S p e c ia lis ts ’ Dr. R alph Weinstein. “My father is alive today because ofNCS,” said Paula Beaulieu, L ow ery’s daughter who lives in Tigard. Dr. Weinstein who worked with Lowery and hisdaughterbelieve some doctors delay the diagnosis of breast cancer because it is more common among women and not on doctors’ minds. “For both patients and doctors, there needs to be more awareness so there can be an early diagnosis,” W einstein said. The support group can help battle the perception that men do not get breast cancer and the stigma behind it. So far, the cancer support group has about five regular members and several who come and go. Besides sharing concerns and educating new diagnosed victims, the group also sponsors speakers, such as Dr. Weinstein. Lyons and his wife also plan on having barbecues and organizing more events for members. “Our goal also is to get out there and tell men that they are not alone,” T e re sa sa id .N o rth w e st C ancer Specialists (NCS) is the largest oncology physician group in the Pacific Northwest. Northwest Cancer Specialists currently provides medical oncology, gynecological oncology and bone m arrow stem cell transplantation in 10 locations th ro u g h o u t P o rtla n d and Vancouver. They also provide p ro fe ssio n a l o n co lo g y services in The Dalles and in Hood River, Oregon. NCS physicians are board- certified in internal medicine and specially trained and certified in medical oncology (c a n c e r), g y n e c o lo g ic a l oncology and surgery, and h e m a to lo g y (b lo o d ). Northwest Cancer Specialists is affiliated with US Oncology, the nation’s largest network o f professionals dedicated to oncology. Advertise in (The -JjJortlanh (Obscrucr Call 288-0033 for rates Saturday, May 6,10 am-4 pm FREE Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center 5340 N Interstate Ave, Portland (Trl-Met bus #5) Information & discussion about Interstate MAX ★ Art, design & construction Prostate cancer test benefits African-American men ★ Bike routes ★ Brownfields study Cultures entertainment ★ Lillian Pitt’s Shared Spirits sculpture, masks, prints f h e "free" PSA blood test is highly accurate in detecting prostate cancer in African-American men, the group \vi th the highest rate of prostate cancer in the world. Study results published in the March (ssue o f Urology indicate that the fDA-approved blood test works as ljeliably in African-American men as (tdoes in white men. J h e test can be used to help men |v o i d u n n e c e ssa ry and c o stly Ijiopsies. Prostate-specific antigen exists in several forms in the blood. Some forms are bound to protein and others are unbound, or “free.” “ It is crucial that we can rely on our most effective screening tools to work equally weli on all men regardless o f their race,” said study co-author Dr. Kevin Slawin, assistant professor of urology at BaylorCollegeof Medicine and director o f the Baylor Prostate Center at The Methodist Hospital. The free PSA test is a follow-up to the PSA test. It helps determine whether slight elevations shown in the PSA test will be o f the most benefit to those at high risk for prostate cancer, Slawin said. “ W e d o n ’t know for sure why African-Americans have a higher rate o f cancer or why they tend to have less favorable outcomes,” he said. “However, early detection is currently our best weapon in the fight against prostate cancer.” Researchers say African-American men tend to develop prostate cancer at a younger age. When the cancer is diagnosed, it is often m ore advanced and more aggressive. The free PSA test is used as a follow up test for men who have a moderately elevated level o f PSA. O f this group o f men, whites have a 25 percent risk of having prostate cancer, while the risk in African-American men is from 30 percent to 50 percent.Before the free PSA test on a multi-center study, the largest to compare free PSA test results between the two races.lt was conducted in seven m ajor U.S. m edical facilities, using the Hybritech free PSA assay manufactured by Beckman Coulter, Inc. ★ No! Kidding! Choir (11 am) ★ Polish Dance Troupe (1 pm) ★ Stage II/Teen Artists (2 pm) ★ ATZINNEGAYALLI (3 pm) Mexican pastries, coffee and juice. Children encouraged! Fully accessible. Questions? Call 962-2254. Call by April 27 for a language interpreter. TTY 238-5811. Shaelaeej need careful hanfa ta guide them tante ia trae at ehi taren I o u have m ore to teach kids than you might imagine. Take the Tune is a campaign to help y o u n g pet takes some help from adults. W e’ve outlined 40 assets that help y o u n g people become successful, and wt you to get involved. Be the difference. 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