BMORENEWS.com

Sharon Baptist Church Senior Pastor Rev. Dr. A.C.D. Vaughn speaks at last night's benefit concert featuring comedian George Wilborn and Patti LaBelle. Also present were Mayor Sheila Dixon, Rep. Elijah Cummings, and Rev. Dr. Harold Carter.

Faith community, mayor attend benefit concert drawing attention to prostate cancer

(BALTIMORE – September 7, 2008) – Dr. Sanford Siegel has been on a mission to make last night’s Patti LaBelle concert a success for at least the past 6 months. Further, this is his urology firm’s second year of bringing mass attention to the prostate cancer issue – especially in the African American community in Baltimore.

Yes, he has worked his staff to the bones so as to make this month a memorable one. Heck, he may even get this particular cancer awareness effort up to the level of the Susan G. Komen Foundation (breast cancer).

We, at BMORENEWS.com, would like to take a minute to congratulate Dr. Siegel and his team for their extraordinary effort. Additionally, we would like to thank them for making prostate cancer awareness a reality in Baltimore. With their tireless efforts, increasingly more people will become aware. Prayerfully, more men will get tested.

Each year, too many men get diagnosed too late. Dr. Siegel has constantly reiterated, however, that the sooner a man gets tested, the better his chances are of survival. After all, it can be beat.

Each week, dozens of men attend Chesapeake Urology’s office in Owings Mills for prostate cancer treatment. Also, there is a men’s support group that meets monthly for the purpose of encouraging us, the stubborn-headed.

One of the appeals made last night on stage by Dr. Siegel was to women. Rev. Dr.A.C. D. Vaughn reiterated the message: ‘Ladies, tell your men to get tested.’

Truth be told, men don’t like going to the doctor, especially for a rectal exam.

However, getting tested makes you no less of a man. Actually, there’s a good chance that you’ll be around longer.

I got tested. Having interviewed several prostate cancer victims, it was a no-brainer. The more I learned about this form of cancer, the more I knew I couldn’t possibly pass the message without hearing it for myself first.

On stage last night, most every speaker had a relative or friend who has suffered from this curable disease. And as for ‘Patti’, she told the story of people dear to her who died unnecessarily. And she told it like only Patti LaBelle can.

Hopefully, her testimony touched someone and has encouraged somebody to forego the ego trip and just get tested.

An exam and a blood test: That’s it! All done in under 3 minutes. You do the math.

Again, kudos to Dr. Siegel and Chesapeake Urology for their outstanding efforts. Also, Radio One did a stellar job in keeping the word out there about the concert, despite torrential rains yesterday. Lives are being be saved because of them all.

Keep up the great work, guys!            

Tags: health, prostate cancer, sandy siegel, urology