PHEN Holds Successful 20^th Annual African American Prostate Cancer Disparity Summit

PHEN has now held 20 successful yearly summits every September (i.e. Prostate Cancer Awareness Month) since 2004 with more than 50 different sponsors and more than 400 speakers, panelists, and moderators. The mission of these summits is to spread education and awareness of the racial disparity behind this disease.

This year, PHEN held four virtual sessions for the summit on September 4^th, 11^th, 18^th, and 25^th via Zoom. Along with having engaging speakers and focusing on important topics about treatments, clinical trials, and cancer screening, PHEN debuted four celebratory videos at each session discussing the success of the annual summit program over the last 20 years.

The first session on September 4^th included a panel discussion about prostate cancer policies and initiatives with key lawmakers like Tennessee’s State Representative Goffrey A. Hardaway Sr. and Ohio’s State Representative Dontavius Jarrells. The second session, on September 11, 2024, involved a panel discussion about PHEN’s faith-based church partnership initiative and another panel on the role PHEN’s Survivor Network outreach has had on improving advocacy. Speakers at this session included Dr. Natalie Mitchem, Pastor at Mount Pisgah AME Church, Reverend Dr. Darrell Armstrong, Senior Pastor at Shiloh Baptist Church, PHEN Ambassador Barney Morris, and PHEN Ambassador Dr. Artie Shelton.

The third session on September 18^th focused on how prostate cancer is becoming a chronic disease with long-term survivorship due to medical advancements. It involved a panel discussion with the industry perspective and another with the patient perspective. The key speakers at the third session included Dr. Geeta Devgan, Prostate Cancer Team Lead, US Medical Affairs at Pfizer, Dr. Robert Bridwell, Medical Advisor at the Sofie Company, and Dr. Peter Francis, Global Medical Affairs Lead, Early Prostate Cancer at Johnson & Johnson. Several prostate cancer survivors also participated, including PHEN Ambassadors DeWayne Charleston and Jerry Womack.

The last session on September 25^th focused on prostate cancer survivorship from a mind and body perspective along with a panel discussion on a family-focused strategy for managing prostate cancer. Key speakers included Mr. and Mrs. Charles Seabrook, a prostate cancer survivor and his wife/caregiver, as well as Mr. Charles “Chuck” Christian, a prostate cancer survivor, and his son/caregiver Mr. Micah Christian. Dr. Andrew J. Roth, Emeritus Attending Psychiatrist from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, also provided a presentation on managing anxiety and depression after a prostate cancer diagnosis.

In 2024, the PHEN Summit brought essential knowledge and information to prostate cancer patients, survivors, and men at risk of the disease. Next year, the virtual Prostate Cancer Disparity Summit sessions will provide further data and advice regarding treatment pathways, clinical trials, prostate cancer screening protocols, and more to African American communities around the country. We invite you to join us.