1000 attend the 4th Annual African-American Men’s Health Forum

April 7, 2003 -- Ricky Reynolds, former Tampa Bay Buccaneer player and Geraldine Barber, mother of NFL players Ronde & Tiki Barber highlighted the 4^th Annual African-American Men’s Health Forum that was held on March 8, 2003at the Hillsborough Community College-Dale Mabry Campus. This year’s event was marked a success as nearly 1000 people attended the annual community health forum presented by the Florida Prostate Cancer Network. FPCN is a non-profit community organization dedicated to educating the public about prostate cancer and men’s health issues. 

    The men’s health forum which has been held on the Hillsborough Community College-Dale Mabry campus each year is a collaborative community partnership with hospitals, healthcare providers, churches and community organizations helping to address major health issues, affecting men. One of the main issues addressed at the forum was prostate cancer.  Prostate cancer incidence rates are 60 percent higher in African-American men than white men and prostate cancer deaths are two times higher for African-American men than white men.  However, it is 95 percent curable if caught early. The forum also provided screening for colon cancer, cholesterol, diabetes and blood pressure.

    Geraldine Barber, a breast cancer survivor and Ricky Reynolds, a prostate cancer survivor spoke to the women and men in attendance. They provided words of encouragement to other prostate cancer survivors, explained the importance for people to be tested and the benefits of early detection. Fred Johnson, also a prostate cancer survivor and well-known jazz singer performed at the forum.

     FPCN is a grass roots organization dependant on cancer survivors, volunteers and supporters to sustain the work of the organization. The health forum was sponsored by AstraZeneca, Air Jamaica, American Cancer Society, Bayer Pharmeuticals, The Florida Sentinel Bulletin, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Hillsborough Community College, Southwest Airlines, St. Joseph-Baptist Health Care, TAP Pharmeuticals, The Frank E. Duckwall Foundation, University Community Hospital, USF-College of Medicine and the USF-College of Medicine (HETC).