CINJ experts available for discussion during National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

Sep 15 2010

The Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ) is making experts available to discuss the risks, treatments and prevention options surrounding prostate cancer during September, which is National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. CINJ is a Center of Excellence of UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in men other than skin cancer, and the second leading cause of cancer death in males. It is estimated that approximately 192,000 new cases of prostate cancer will occur in the United States this year, with 27,000 deaths. In New Jersey, 6,000 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed, while 660 men will die from the disease. African American men are at a higher risk of developing prostate cancer.

CINJ experts available for comment include:

Isaac Kim, MD, PhD, chief, Section of Urologic Oncology and executive director of the Dean and Betty Gallo Prostate Cancer Center at CINJ; and associate professor of surgery, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Dr. Kim has a specialty interest in robotic- and minimally-invasive surgery and performs a high volume of these surgeries on prostate cancer patients each year. He can discuss a recent study that he and colleagues published which shows a low complication rate for robotic prostatectomy.

Grace Lu-Yao, PhD, MPH, cancer epidemiologist at CINJ, and professor of medicine at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. A new study just released by Dr. Lu-Yao and colleagues describes how obesity is associated with prostate biopsy rates, thus leading to a lower detection rate among obese men. A new study just released by Dr. Lu-Yao and colleagues describes how obesity is associated with prostate biopsy rates, thus leading to a lower detection rate among obese men. She also can discuss the risk profile of men whose prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels are considered in the "normal" range and the controversy surrounding whether that level should be lowered.

Mark N. Stein, MD, medical oncologist at CINJ, and assistant professor of medicine at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Dr. Stein has a clinical and research interest in prostate cancer and can discuss the importance of annual screenings, especially for at-risk populations such as African American men and those with a family history. He also can provide insight regarding follow-up screening frequency for significantly older men, who have been diagnosed with low-grade prostate cancer.

Betty Gallo, director of public outreach and government relations at the Dean and Betty Gallo Prostate Cancer Center at CINJ. She is the wife of the late New Jersey Congressman Dean A. Gallo, who died of prostate cancer in 1994. Her advocacy work for prostate cancer awareness includes working with area clergy to alert at-risk populations to the need for prostate cancer screening and promoting support services for women who are caring for loved ones with the disease.

SOURCE Cancer Institute of New Jersey