MaleCare – Helping Patients Deal With Prostate Cancer Screening And Treatment

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Men get sick faster and die younger than women.

Founded in 1997, MaleCare, Inc. is a non-profit organization that supports men’s cancer programs. It began as a once in a month lecture series on prostate cancer in Manhattan. Currently, it tries to improve lives of men diagnosed with cancer and supports them and their families through the ordeal, by making available safe health services. They even extend training, information, technical assistance, as well as practical solutions to improve treatment. They work in tandem with institutions, health care professionals, and governments to make their mission successful.

Some of the distinctive projects handled by Malecare are:

First ever prostate cancer support for gay men and transgender in the United States.
First national support program for Lesbian, Gay, Transgender, and Bisexual people suffering from cancer.
African American prostate cancer research program.
World’s only male breast cancer support group network.
Support groups for families of men diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Programs Under Malecare Currently

Advanced Prostate Cancer – Advanced prostate cancer can cause death. In 2006, Malecare started the first program for men who were diagnosed with prostate cancer or the advanced form.
Prostate Cancer Under 50 – With the increase in number of men below 50 being diagnosed with prostate cancer, Malecare in 2003 came up with unique program to help these men tackle their psychosocial and economic needs.
Gay Men and Prostate Cancer – 8-9% of men diagnosed with prostate cancer are those who have sex with men. Malecare develops programs and support groups for gay men diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Father Dad – Cancer incidence rates and mortality in African men are being researched and a special program that combines parenting skills with awareness of health care have been developed to help these men.
Prostate cancer women – Malecare has an online community that provides support to women worried about the men in their lives who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Malecare On PSA Screening Controversy

Darryl Mitteldorf, executive director of Malecare, talks about the ongoing PSA screening controversy and says that very often his support groups have come across men who have regretted their decision for being tested for prostate cancer. He says:

We have men come in very upset, week after week, telling us what they are not telling their doctors. One-third of men who are given a P.S.A. test were never asked if they wanted it. Of men who are asked, more than half say their doctor failed to mention possible side effects that result from treatment.

Men tend to neglect their health and this along with other factors such as inaccessible medical facilities, insufficient research in male-specific diseases etc have led to a deterioration of men’s health worldwide. Oncologists, psychologists, and social workers at Malecare work together to provide relief, respite, and support to men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer.