There are things people just don't talk about in polite society: politics, religion, health problems. But while the first two taboos may be good for social harmony, the last one can be deadly. Particularly when it comes to prostate cancer.
There's a stigma connected to prostate cancer that makes men reluctant to talk about it or to get tested for the disease, says the Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation, whose Rockin' Blue Ribbon Bash is one way it's demolishing the stigma. Look, when it's caught in time, the cancer has a more than 90 percent cure rate.
"I don't understand why it's taboo," says Billy Roehrenbeck, who along with wife Anna Kaye is co-chairing the event. "Why aren't people talking about it? I haven't been affected by it directly, but it's something that can kill you. Why won't men talk about it?"
Admittedly, several years ago he wasn't too interested in discussing his health either. Then, his friend Michael Desselle was diagnosed with prostate cancer in his 40s and was surprisingly candid. Billy admits that he was taken aback at first. "I thought, 'Why is he telling me this?'"
Then, as he heard the whole story, Billy says, he realized Desselle, whose cancer was successfully treated, was sharing his experience so Billy would know what to look for himself and tell others. That year, when Billy went in for his annual physical, he insisted they run blood tests to look for signs of prostate cancer.
"They weren't going to do it. I was 38. I said, 'You're already pulling blood. Pull it.'"
Billy remains cancer-free but if he should develop the disease, the chances of catching it early are great.
Many young men don't even think about getting tested, believing that prostate cancer is an old man's disease. And yet, Billy points out, of the seven men he has known who have had prostate cancer, all were diagnosed before they were 50 years old. That includes his childhood swimming coach, Paul Blair, who died of this particular cancer.
"Coach Blair was fit," he says. "Ran all the time. Great shape. Took care of his health. Never smoked. Ate right. And boom."
As Anna Kaye says, "Don't hide. This is not something you need to hide from. Start up the conversation."
A major source of information is the APCF, a multi-faceted foundation that, according to Director of Development Patrick Presley, is the only one of its kind in the country. While the national foundation focuses on research, the Arkansas group launches aggressive education campaigns to spread the word about prostate cancer and early detection. It sponsors screening events and also offers support groups, mentor programs and "navigators" to help patients and their families negotiate the health care system.
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men (skin cancer is first), affecting one in seven. In the black community, it's one in four.
And yet, all too often the organization hears stories of a man hiding his symptoms or avoiding the doctor until the disease is too far advanced. Presley says it's more often than not the wife of a cancer patient who contacts them for help, worried that her husband has suspicious symptoms and won't discuss it or see a doctor.
Women, of course, cannot get prostate cancer, but emotionally, psychologically and financially, they can still be devastated by the disease. Getting them involved in the fight is essential to early detection and education.
"I think women or wives can play a role because we're the ones that schedule appointments for the family," says Anna Kaye. "We schedule our mammograms each year. We're great about that. Why don't we schedule his appointment? Do it at the same time."
For the first time, this year the Rockin' Blue Ribbon Bash will pull women into the fight in a more visible way. This year they'll give out their first Woman of the Year award (to Desselle's wife, Susan, who urged him to see a doctor in the first place), and this year's honoree, University of Central Arkansas President Tom Courtway, diagnosed at 56, and his wife, Melissa, will speak at the event.
The goal of the Rockin' Blue Ribbon Bash is to raise awareness and money for the foundation. The Thursday party is already sold out -- evidence, they insist, that it is indeed "rockin'." "We've got a reputation as a great party event," Presley explains. "And we embrace that."
"We've gone to a lot of charity events," Billy says. "This is our favorite. It's so fun. And it's real."
Like many other fundraisers, it has an auction of trips to Costa Rica and New Mexico, jewelry and Razorbacks football packages led by auctioneer Jay Adkins; celebrity master of ceremonies Christina Munoz Madsen; food and drinks. But what sets this one apart, the Roehrenbecks claim, is something that can't be planned. It's a personal connection.
"There's a real passion with this effort," Billy says.
They also hope that the campaign for prostate cancer awareness is on the cusp of breaking out and becoming less taboo. They're already seeing evidence that people are learning more about the disease. This year, for the first time, all the state-funded college and high school teams in Arkansas will wear blue ribbons (the symbol for prostate cancer) on their helmets during September, Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.
The Rockin' Blue Ribbon Bash is 6 p.m. Thursday at Temple B'Nai Israel, 3700 N. Rodney Parham Road. The event is sold out, but donations to the foundation are accepted. Call (501) 379-8027 or visit arprostatecancer.org.
High Profile on 08/16/2015