Background

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed non-skin cancer in America. According to the American Cancer Society's Cancer Facts & Figures, an estimated 209,900 new cases were diagnosed in 1997; more than the number of new breast cancers. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men. Almost as many men died of prostate cancer in 1997 (41,800) as women  died of breast cancer (43,900). More alarming still, prostate cancer incidence rates are about one third higher for African American men than white men, and African American men are twice as likely to die from prostate cancer as whites.  

The explosion in prostate cancer incidence rates, largely due to improved detection, has been the "wake-up call" for men to learn more about their bodies and their health...to participate in their health care in a very proactive and active way. Widespread disagreement and confusion in the medical community about prostate cancer screening, early detection guidelines, treatment options, side effects, and quality of life issues provided the impetus to drive men off the fence of health apathy and into a state of health consumerism.  

The Man to Man Prostate Cancer Education and Support Program was originally conceived by James Mullen, a prostate cancer survivor, in 1990. Mr. Mullen felt that he did not have enough accurate information to make the important decisions facing him at the time of his diagnosis. He found that men faced with this disease had an overwhelming desire to make informed choices about their treatment and to share their collective wisdom on how to live happy, fulfilling lives despite the intrusion of a myriad of unwelcome treatment side effects. By filling the gap that existed in his own care he was able to help others find solutions to their problems.  

Research conducted for the American Cancer Society by Michelson Associates and the Gallup Organization indicated a strong need for information, education, and support based on focus groups and telephone surveys of men and women both touched and untouched by prostate cancer. Based on these findings, the American Cancer Society joined forces with Jim Mullen and Man to Man to develop a formalized program. Man to Man provides accurate, factual information to men and their partners about prostate cancer in a supportive environment following essential guidelines that assure program integrity and credibility. Man to Man is an ideal vehicle by which new relationships are formed between patients/survivors and care providers with a two-way exchange of information, trust, and respect. The partnership of the American Cancer Society with volunteer health professionals and survivors has proved to be an exciting and valued service for all involved.  

Program Goals  

• Patient Education - provide accurate information about diagnosis and treatment options for prostate cancer.  
• Support - provide support, encouragement, and solutions to common problems associated with prostate cancer.  
• Awareness - promote awareness of prostate cancer as a major health care concern for all men. 

General Program Information

• Man to Man offers education and support, not medical advice.  
• Man to Man has a policy of confidentiality so that members feel comfortable to talk openly and honestly.  
• Man to Man promotes a non-judgmental attitude and objectivity towards its members and the choices they make about their care. 

Group Format  

The group format is a two-hour meeting held on a monthly basis. Two parts to the meeting, an education presentation and a support and sharing session.

• Educational Presentation by a health care professional on a pre-selected topic followed by a question and answer session. The question and answer period after the speaker's presentation is often the most popular segment of the meeting. To ensure that helpful information emerges from this part of the meeting, members are encouraged to refrain from asking the speaker for medical advice.  
• Support and Sharing in small group sessions led by trained facilitators. The sessions start with men and their partners introducing themselves and giving a brief account of their personal experience with prostate cancer. Discussion takes place around the common questions, concerns, and feelings of the group.