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Gov.
Blagojevich launches Men's Health Week in Illinois by encouraging
men to take an active role in their health
State
grants $1.2 million for prostate cancer awareness and education
grants
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[June 12, 2007]
SPRINGFIELD -- In an effort to increase
awareness of the medical conditions affecting men and the need to
live a healthy lifestyle, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich proclaimed June
11-17 Men's Health Week in Illinois. Men's Health Week is celebrated
each year as the week leading up to and including Father's Day, with
the goal of raising awareness of preventable health problems and
encouraging early detection and treatment of disease among men and
boys.
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"It's important to make sure our fathers, brothers and grandfathers
are taking good care of themselves, and the first step in living a
healthy lifestyle is education," Blagojevich said. "I want to
encourage men to take an active role in their health this week,
starting by setting up an appointment for a checkup." Men, on
average, live six years less than women. One in four men has high
blood pressure, one in five will develop prostate cancer, one in
five can expect to have a heart attack before the age of 65, one in
12 can expect to develop diabetes, and one in 22 will suffer from
depression at some time in his life, according to the Illinois
Department of Public Health.
"Some factors, such as family history or racial and ethnic
background, can increase your odds of having these diseases. But men
can improve their chances of living a healthy life by practicing
some common-sense habits, like eating healthier foods, staying
active, drinking in moderation, kicking the tobacco habit and
getting annual checkups and screenings," said Dr. Eric E. Whitaker,
director of the Illinois Department of Public Health.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2007/Jun/12/images/ads/current/alexco%20want%20to%20be%20a%20realtor%20060607.png)
Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer diagnosed in
American men (excluding skin cancer). Approximately one out of every
five men will develop the disease in his lifetime. The most current
data from the Department of Public Health Illinois State Cancer
Registry reports 8,011 men with prostate cancer in 2004. About 3
percent of the men who develop prostate cancer die from the disease,
including 1,228 men in 2004. It's estimated approximately 8,240 men
will be reported with prostate cancer in 2007. More than 80 percent
of prostate cancer cases are in men 65 years of age and older.
African-American men, who are about one-third more likely than white
men to develop the disease, have the highest incidence rate for
prostate cancer in the world.
Certain factors increase the risk of developing prostate cancer:
-
Being over 50 years
of age
-
Being an
African-American
-
Eating a diet high in
fat
-
Having a family
history of prostate cancer
It is important to remember that, while these factors may
increase a person's risk of developing the disease, they do not
cause prostate cancer. Many men with these risk factors never
develop prostate cancer; other men have prostate cancer but have no
known risk factors. Prostate cancer is diagnosed by screening
procedures that can detect the disease in its earliest stages, many
times before there are any symptoms.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2007/Jun/12/images/ads/current/moriearty%20bca%20040407.png)
All men 50 years of age and older should ask their doctors about
prostate cancer testing every year. African-Americans and men with
close family members who have had prostate cancer should talk to
their doctors about starting screenings at a younger age.
The Illinois Department of Public Health Communities of Color
Initiative awarded $1.2 million for prostate cancer awareness and
education grants in fiscal year 2007. (See listing
below.)
Men's Health Week events in Illinois sponsored by the Illinois
Department of Public Health include:
-
Thapelo Institute
5th Annual African-American Male Health and Fitness Expo
Malcolm X College, 1900 W. Van Buren St., Chicago
June 16
8 a.m.-4 p.m.
The event includes a wide range of health seminars and free
screenings, to include prostate cancer exams, glucose,
cholesterol, kidney disease, blood pressure, body mass index and
HIV.
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Real Men Cook
Health and Wellness Pavilion
18th annual Real Men Cook
South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 S. Shore Drive, Chicago
June 17
3-6 p.m.
In conjunction with the Real Men Cook annual Father's Day event,
the Illinois Department of Public Health will sponsor a health
and wellness pavilion. The pavilion will include information on
healthy cooking, fitness, family wellness, bone marrow donation,
prostate cancer, and free screenings of glucose, blood pressure
and HIV.
-
African-American
Male Retreat
Springfield Hilton
June 28
One-day conference targeting 100 African-American men from
throughout Illinois to address the disproportionate rate of
incidence for African-American men related to HIV, prostate
cancer and cardiovascular disease. Conference outcomes will
include, but not limited to, the development and implementation
of a joint HIV, prostate cancer and cardiovascular disease
outreach, education and awareness campaign.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2007/Jun/12/images/ads/current/mcquellon's%20bc%20030607.png)
The governor's proclamation is as follows:
WHEREAS, since 1994, Men's Health Week has been observed during
the week preceding Father's Day; and
WHEREAS, the state of Illinois is committed to the prevention of
illness, to the promotion of good health among all of its residents
and to recognizing our responsibility to all our citizens; and,
WHEREAS, despite advances in treatment and medical research, men
continue to live an average of six years less than women; and
WHEREAS, significant numbers of male-related health problems,
such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, infertility and colon
cancer could be detected and treated if the awareness of these
problems were increased; and,
WHEREAS, Men's Health Week strives to raise public awareness of
the importance of engaging in a healthy lifestyle and of early
detection and treatment of health problems affecting men and their
families to assist in gaining a better understanding of these
illnesses and confront them with preventive health actions; and,
WHEREAS, alliances between public health and private sectors,
business, and elected officials have been formed to further our
efforts in promoting health and preventing disease, injury and
disability to encourage men to take an active role, with regular
physician visits for basic treatment and examinations that could
significantly reduce the rate of male mortality; and
WHEREAS, the men of the state of Illinois are encouraged to
increase awareness of the importance of a healthy lifestyle, regular
checkups and physical activity;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Rod Blagojevich, Governor of the State of
Illinois, do hereby proclaim June 11-17, 2007 as
MEN'S HEALTH WEEK
in the State of Illinois, and I encourage all citizens to join in
this observance to promote and improve the health of men and to urge
all men in the Land of Lincoln to visit their physician for a
preventive health checkup and examination where they renew their
commitment to a healthy lifestyle for themselves, and for their
families.
[Text from file received from
the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information]
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Grants awarded for prostate cancer
awareness and education
Grantee |
Location |
Grant |
100 Black Men
-- Alton |
Godfrey |
$15,000 |
100 Black Men
-- Chicago |
Chicago |
$15,000 |
Alivio Medical
Center |
Chicago |
$10,000 |
Beloved
Community Family Services Inc. aka Englewood Redevelopment |
Chicago |
$35,000 |
Bethel
Community Facility |
Chicago Heights |
$25,000 |
Broadcast
Ministers Alliance |
Chicago |
$245,000 |
Casa Aztlan
Community Center |
Chicago |
$5,000 |
Centro Sin
Fronteras |
Chicago |
$10,000 |
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District |
Champaign |
$10,000 |
Chicago Chapter
National Black Nurses |
Chicago |
$10,000 |
Communities of
Color Prostate Cancer Initiative --
outreach and education materials |
Statewide |
$20,000 |
Cook County
Department of Public Health -- Project Brotherhood |
Oak Park |
$85,000 |
Cook County
Physician's Association Southside Health Association -- Luck
Care Center |
Chicago |
$50,000 |
CROE |
Chicago |
$30,000 |
Crossroads
Coalition, St. James Hospital |
Chicago Heights |
$30,000 |
East Side
Health District |
East St. Louis |
$18,000 |
Erie Family
Health Center |
Chicago |
$10,000 |
Fathers Who
Care |
Chicago |
$27,000 |
Fellowship
Baptist Church |
Chicago |
$10,000 |
Genesis
Community Services |
Chicago |
$50,000 |
Harvey Brooks
Foundation |
Joliet |
$10,000 |
Hoyleton Youth
and Family Services |
Hoyleton |
$10,000 |
Illinois
Migrant Council |
Chicago |
$8,000 |
Illinois
Primary Health Care Association --
access community health, federally qualified health centers |
Springfield |
$100,000 |
La Voz Latina |
Rockford |
$10,000 |
Latino
Organization of the South West |
Chicago |
$5,000 |
LePenseur Youth
and Family Services |
Chicago |
$60,000 |
Mujeres Latinas
en Accion |
Chicago |
$5,000 |
Our Lady of
Mount Carmel School |
Melrose Park |
$12,000 |
Peoria
City/County Health Department |
Peoria |
$20,000 |
Real Men Cook
Charities, Inc. |
Chicago |
$50,000 |
Resurrection
Health Care St. Elizabeth Hospital |
Chicago |
$10,000 |
Sankofa
(Westside) |
Chicago |
$25,000 |
Thapelo
Institute |
Chicago |
$95,000 |
Total Resource
Community Development Organization |
Chicago |
$15,000 |
United
Neighborhood Organization |
Chicago |
$15,000 |
Universidad
Popular |
Chicago |
$10,000 |
Winnebago
County Health Department |
Rockford |
$30,000 |
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