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Coalitions, Networks and Partnerships

As we move into our 10th Anniversary, we are proud to say that 50 Hoops has benefited many communities and saved hundreds of lives directly and indirectly.

Over the years, we have developed partnerships, networks and coalitions, which in 2008 – 2010 will expand into nation-wide coalitions for education and benefit of prostate cancer research.  Here are a few comments about 50 Hoops—AFTER we’ve left the community:

Detroit Prostate Coalition

The Detroit Prostate Cancer Coalition was established after a successful collaboration with 50 Hoops, National Physician & Family Referral, AARP and the American Cancer Society Prostate Cancer 101 lecture series. This effort to educate African American men in the Metro Detroit area about prostate cancer early detection, prevention and treatment has been a wonderful success. (Each participant completed a pre and post test to measure the effectiveness of the messaging.)

The coalition is made up of prostate cancer survivors and representatives of several health related organizations who have an interest in the issue of prostate cancer such as the Michigan Department of Community Health, National Cancer Institute Community Information Service, and caregivers. The coalition has been meeting since 2006 and continues to meet with the support of the American Cancer Society.   The medical advisor is Dr. Willie Underwood of the Karmanos Cancer Institute and professor of Urology at Wayne State University.  As long time survivors the group has developed some unique needs and has questions about their current and future health status.  Having a medical advisor has been helpful in addressing some of their deepest concerns about recurrence and quality of life issues. 

The program’s call to action was to have those who were interested in the issue of prostate cancer join a coalition to address the health disparities of African American men with prostate cancer.  This would be a proactive group whose focus would be to educate and empower men to develop a relationship with a primary care physician and inquire about prostate screening when is it appropriate for them to have it. 

The coalitions first task was to develop a mission statement and then to work to that end.
                                               
Mission Statement

“The mission of the Detroit Prostate Cancer Coalition is to promote education within the metro Detroit communities about the prevalence of prostate cancer in men and to encourage annual screening, as well as save lives.”

Then the coalition discovered a DVD that the American Urological Association developed called” Prostate Health, A Guide for African American Men,” featuring Billy Davis, Jr. and Marilyn McCoo.  This is a comprehensive guide that reviews all aspects of prostate diseases.  It is easy to understand and gives personal stories of men that talk candidly about their experience with prostate disease. They shared this DVD with groups that they are already associated with, and critiqued the messaging with those groups.

Coalition members also developed church bulletin announcements to discuss the need for men to see their doctor and ask them about prostate cancer screening.  They are planning to be trained to talk about prostate cancer with both small and large groups on 2008. 

In November 2007, the coalition will host a Men’s Health Forum that will address the continuum of good health and how men can better achieve it.  The forum will feature Andrea Collier, the author of, A Woman Guide to a Black Man’s Health.

The group will continue to meet and grow to support the need for African American men in the Detroit area to talk about prostate cancer, and continue to dispel the myths that surround this disease. 

The American Cancer Society is committed to addressing the issue of health disparities through research, education, advocacy and service.

Voncile Brown-Miller
Director of Disparity Programs
American Cancer Society, Great Lakes Division
Metro Detroit Service Center

Dallas Prostate Cancer Partners Network

67 men have been screened by 50 Hoops and the Methodist PSAP Program.

Any abnormal (high) PSA results are called the next day and we follow up until we achieve a diagnosis. Over the past 3 years we have had 802 men with high PSA values, I have been able to reach 800 of the 802 and have achieved a diagnosis on 737 of the 802.

If I cannot reach them by phone, I will go to there home, I continue to call or visit until I achieve a diagnosis. Advertisement done by 50 Hoops on the radio have bought many of the men that have been screened, and those who came to watch the games only and maybe learn more about prostate and prostate cancer has been very good. The effort put forth by 50 Hoops to reach the men in our community has been great, I feel as though the men who come are more at ease being around men and are able to be more open with questions about prostate issues. Methodist Prostate Screening Program looks forward to continual work with 50 Hoops for as long as they and our program are in existence.

Thank you
Timothy R. Upshaw
Manager of the Prostate Screening & Awareness Program
Methodist Hospital of Dallas

St. Louis Prostate Cancer Partners and Network

It was good to talk with you yesterday.  It was very timely, since, a few weeks ago, we held our annual PSA screening event at the Missouri Black Expo.  This is a collaborative activity that brings together the 100 Black Men of St. Louis, the Missouri Black Expo, and the Siteman Cancer Center, as well as a host of other partners, including the St. Louis Men’s Group Against Cancer and Bayer, to put on a Prostate Cancer Awareness and Survivors Walk and screening, which ends at the Missouri Black Expo, where men receive PSA screening at no charge to them.
  
This collaboration was seeded by 50 Hoops back in 2003.  The first couple of years of this collaboration, 50 Hoops brought the partners together.  The first year included a basketball tournament, but as the collaboration matured, 50 Hoops was able to play a less active role.
  
Over the past five years, we have screened more than 1,000 men cumulatively at this event, most of them African American men.  Approximately 7.5-8% of men each year have elevated PSA levels (we use a lower level than conventionally considered above normal because of the heightened risk for African American men).  These men receive a phone call (within one week) from one of our physicians or nurses specializing in prostate cancer, and they are either followed at Siteman or by their own physician, depending on their preference.  We have treated men who were under- or uninsured through one of the state or Siteman funds available to these patients.  All men with PSAs within normal levels are notified of their results by postcard.
  
This has been a very fruitful collaboration, and after five years, most of the volunteers and physicians working at this event have participated several times.  Thank you for helping us build this collaboration!

Brian C. Springer, MHA
Executive Director
Research and Business Administration  
Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center

Thanks for your statement.  It was great.

And, by the way, this original  collaboration with  MBE has taken root in many forms.  We have been working with MBE each year in other diseases with clients in areas of Hypertension, Diabetes, and Sickle Cell Anemia.  And, the kickoff of the first walk 100 Black Man  that year is when  we presented Davis and McCoo.  That was the 50 Hoops MBE and 100 Black Man Collaboration, which has moved forward and grown since with you, Brian Springer, board member for 50 Hoops who we introduced to them, and has  participated annually with  prostate cancer  support and other collaborations since.  

This is an expanded view of our collaboration.  

Thanks again,  

 Ed Sanders, Co-Founder, 50 Hoops

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