home > programs > advocacy campaigns   

Advocacy Campaigns

2009 'Summit to End Prostate Cancer' Brings Nearly 100 Advocates to Capitol Hill

The 2009 Summit to End Prostate Cancer, sponsored by ZERO - The Project to End Prostate Cancer on Sept. 23-24, brought the largest gathering of prostate cancer advocates ever to meet on Capitol Hill.

Congressman Jim Marshall (D-GA) spoke about the Thomas J. Manton Early Detection and Treatment Act, a proposal he plans to introduce that will provide early detection and treatment of prostate cancer for under-insured and uninsured men.

The Congressman also stressed the need for health care reform legislation in order to curb rising medical costs that, if left unchecked, would imperil the nation's economy over the next two decades.

The two-day Summit was packed with more than 100 meetings as attendees visited their elected officials on Capitol Hill. The summit also focused on developing effective prostate cancer grassroots networks in local communities to build greater awareness and support across the U.S.

This year marked ZERO's 10th anniversary of bringing advocates together from across the U.S. to discuss key issues facing the prostate cancer community. It's is the only Summit annually held on Capitol Hill that specifically focuses on prostate cancer.

"The Summit to End Prostate Cancer represents an annual opportunity during September, known as 'Prostate Cancer Awareness Month,' for supporters nationwide to gather in Washington, D.C. to speak up about prostate cancer and raise awareness of the importance of federal funding and other issues to help us achieve our goal of zero prostate cancer," said ZERO's CEO Skip Lockwood.

• The Summit to End Prostate Cancer
• Support this year's Summit to End Prostate Cancer
• National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, September 2009
  by the President of the United States of America, A Proclamation

Prostate Cancer Report Card

Each year, ZERO - The Project to End Prostate Cancer issues a Prostate Cancer Report Card assessing each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia on their prostate cancer mortality and screening rates, as well as each state's efforts to pass state insurance mandates and support for prostate cancer-related legislation.

In order to determine each state's commitment to the fight against prostate cancer, ZERO assigns a grade to each state in the following areas:

• Current mortality rates
• Screening statistics
• State insurance mandates
• Support for the following prostate cancer-related legislation:
  • Thomas J. Manton Prostate Cancer Early Detection and Treatment Act of 2007, which would create a prostate cancer screening and treatment program for low to moderate income men
  • Department of Defense Cancer Research Program "Dear Colleague" letter from Members of Congress to appropriators asking for increased funding for prostate cancer research in the Defense Appropriations bill
  • Senate and House resolution recognizing September as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
  • A bill to increase funding and support for better diagnostic and screening tools focusing on prostate imaging technology
  • A bill to create an 'Office of Men's Health' at the Department of Health and Human Services

Read more about the Report Card Grading Methodology.

The Report Card is a highly effective tool for advocating at both the state and federal level. To see how your state fared and to download the complete 2008 Report Card, click here.