Guernsey County Commissioners 2020

Ashland County Commissioners 2020

Summit County Commissioners 2020

Zanesville, Ohio 2020

Ross County Commissioners 2020

Proclamations 2020

Supporting Prostate Cancer Awareness and Education as of today in Ohio! Yes there is one  Pennsylvania. I thought a couple of years ago I was sending it to Ohio. Oops..but the Mayor was more than happy to support anyway. 🙂

*Connellsville, Pennsylvania
Adams County - Terri Crothers
Alexandria - Linda Propster
Ashtabula County -  J.P. Dutton
Carroll County - Robert Wirkner
Centerville - Brooks Compton
Clinton County - Lisa Hipke
Cuyahoga Council -Yvonne Conwell
Fairfield County -  Rachel Elsa
Guernsey County - Michelle Long
Hamilton County - Fatima Ba
Lake County - Ron Young
Lucas County - Tina Wozniak
Meigs County - Randy Smith
Mercer County - Kim Everman
Montgomery County - Charlie Powers
Muskingum - Cindy Cameron
Portage County - Sabrina Christian-Bennett
Portsmouth - Andrew McManus (Invited to council meeting)
Richland County - Tony Vero
Ross County - PDF
Sandusky County - Kay Reiter
Seneca County - Shayne Thomas (Blue Courthouse)
Summit - John Schmidt
Tuscarawas County - Adam Stilgenbauer (Courthouse Blue)
Williams County - Anne Retcher
Youngstown - Nancy Walsh
Zanesville - Don Mason

Cuyahoga County Council 2020

Thank you Cuyahoga County Council for your continued support with prostate cancer awareness and education in September!

And the work continues 2020

My Name is Linda Hoetger, I am asking for your support for the 7,030 men impacted by prostate cancer and their families just like mine. Some who live in your community and are not ready to speak up yet and share their journey. I ask for your support yearly so that one day we can be part of a cure and zero out prostate cancer. Did you know the Ohio Revised Code 5.227 states that June is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month? The nation recognizes Prostate Cancer Awareness and Education Month in September. I have become an active advocate and helping them along the way. On June 19, 2009, my life forever changed when my husband Ray and I were given the devastating news that he had an aggressive form of prostate cancer. Ray is a 20-year veteran of the United States Air Force. After he graduated from Kingston High School in 1970. He enlisted in the Air Force as a Firefighter and served 4 years in that career field stateside and in England. Being a firefighter there were countless contaminates used to distinguish fires and also used to decontaminate the military airplanes. Also, herbicides were sprayed around the military installations to control the weeds and foliage. We believe that Ray's military career caused his prostate cancer. He is the oldest of three sons in the family and he is the only one of three sons with prostate cancer. Though Ray never stepped boots in Vietnam, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and the children have been affected with birth defects. Two marriages and seven children, of which five children were born with birth defects. His first son died at 8 days old from a heart condition, his first daughter was born premature. Their second daughter was born with no defects. When Ray and I got married in 1983, I had dreams of always having a healthy happy family. Our first son was born in 1984, with a VSD (Ventricular septal defect). A year later our second son was born with webbed toes on both feet. Our third son was born with no defects, our fourth son was born with 1-4 heart murmurs and lung issues. All of our sons have grown up now. The older sons are in their thirties and our youngest is twenty-nine. I know that there is an increased risk of prostate cancer and never want them to have to go through the journey my husband and I have as a couple. The two older sons have started families of their own. Since Ray's diagnosis, I was not about to sit back and do nothing! I started advocating and raising awareness for this horrible disease that no one seems to want to talk about. As of October 2019 there are over 489,000 Veterans with Prostate Cancer in the Veterans Health Administration system. Over 16,000 of them are Metastatic. As the wife/caregiver of a retired Veteran, and military brat. This is unacceptable and the need to screen and educate the Veterans about prostate cancer is important in 2020 and beyond..

In 2013, I started contacting elected officials for Proclamations and Resolutions supporting Prostate Cancer Awareness and Education Month. Since starting my mission there have been over 2,000 elected officials supporting my efforts in raising awareness in their Districts, and Communities. My husband and I have been invited to attend Proclamation readings and presentations during City Council meetings. Which is an honor to attend to share our story and raise awareness. My goal in getting Proclamations and Resolutions from elected officials throughout Ohio to let the men and families impacted by prostate cancer and let them know that someone cares. Also, I hope that with me sharing my story they will share their story. And get more men talking so that one day there will be a cure for prostate cancer and more lives will be saved. I hope one day to have a Prostate Cancer Survivor from all areas of Ohio. Encouragement from Legislators, Commissioners, Mayors and other elected officials to support the families of prostate cancer and to educate residents about this horrible disease with a Proclamation and Resolution. We are working with Representative Richard Brown and Representative Scott Lipps, to have ZERO The End Of Prostate Cancer license plates passed, funds from the license plates would stay in Ohio to provide free patient navigation serviced to reduce financial toxicity among prostate cancer and free transportation for prostate cancer patients to doctors appointments. On June 19, 2019, it has passed in the House 97-0 It was referred to the Senate Transportation, Commerce and Workforce Committee on September 11, 2019, waiting to be heard in the Senate for a vote. Working with ZERO has given me so many more opportunities to help raise awareness and to be part of ending prostate cancer. Each year Ray and I speak to our elected officials at the Annual ZERO Prostate Cancer Summit in Washington, D.C., and work locally in Ohio and across the nation to secure proclamations from each local government. I keep track of all the Proclamations and Resolutions on Google map and would be honored to add yours to it as well. Please send a copy to my address below. Please write Do not bend on envelope.

Prostate Cancer Awareness and Education

Whereas, this year approximately 191,930 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in the United States alone every year and roughly 33,330 will die this year from the disease; and

Whereas, in Ohio an estimated 7,030 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed and an estimated 1,200 deaths will occur in 2020; and

Whereas, Men with relatives – father, brother, son – with a history of prostate cancer are twice as likely to develop the disease; and

Whereas, Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American men, behind only lung cancer; and

Whereas, Men who served in the military who have been exposed to chemicals and herbicides are at a higher risk for developing prostate cancer; and

Whereas, 1 in 9 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime. African American men are at the highest risk for the disease with the rate of 1 in 6 and 2.2 times more likely to die from the disease; and

Whereas, Education regarding prostate cancer and early detection strategies is critical to saving lives, preserving, and protecting our families. The economic and social hardship it has on the families is huge; Prostate cancer is estimated to cost over $8 billion in direct medical expenditures: and

Whereas, Nearly 3.1 million men in the U.S. are living with a prostate cancer diagnosis; that number is estimated to climb to 4 million by 2024 as men in the baby boomer generation age; and

Whereas, all men are at risk for prostate cancer and we encourage the citizens of (City) to increase the importance of prostate screenings.

More to come

I am working in my Petey room and going through the scenes that I am parting with. Please be patient.

Kissing booth Petey

Time to make room for new Petey scenes!

I am asking $20 plus shipping for Kissing Booth Petey. 

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to prostate cancer research.

I have PayPal available if interested please send me a message through the contact form on my blog.

Gardening Petey

Gardening Petey

$30 plus shipping

Paypal available

Sittin on the dock...

Petey on Twitter!

2020 prostate cancer static’s

While the increase in deaths is partially attributed to an older population as baby boomers wade deeper into the risk pool, we believe the prominent determining factor is the discouragement of prostate cancer testing over the last decade. PSA test opponents have credited advances in treatment as the key determining factor in the reduction of prostate cancer deaths. However, the number of treatments for metastatic and castrate-resistant disease has increased dramatically over the last decade but the mortality rate has slowed and plateaued while deaths have increased recently.

S. R. No. 287

You know you need a life when you find ideas for Petey! Now he can’t wait for Summer to try it out in the water. First he will need a life vest! #MyCreativityIsMySanity #ProstateCancer #Petey

Zero - The End Of Prostate Cancer license plates

Funds from the ZERO The End Of Prostate Cancer license plates would stay in Ohio to provide free patient navigation services to reduce financial toxicity among prostate cancer and free transportation for prostate cancer patients to doctor appointments.

Thank you Rich Harman!

Another very Special gift came in the mail today! For the past few years Mayor Rich Harman has support my efforts in raising awareness for prostate cancer. It brought happy tears to my eyes.  I took a picture with the envelope as well. I think this Is a sign about what I do for prostate cancer

444 is a number of protection and encouragement. It is a sign that you are currently following the right path. If you see the number 444 repeatedly, it is often your angel giving you a sign that they are with you.

Very Special Gift!

As of December 1, 2019 a very special Mayor from Woodville, Ohio retired after 33 years of serving the resident of Woodville In 2015,  I contacted Mayor Harman for a Proclamation for Prostate Cancer Awareness and Education Month in September. He was honored to be included in my request as prostate cancer has also made an impact in his life as well. Mayor Harman had went above and beyond and added blue light to the flag poles in the park and on bushes. Last year he also made ribbons and these banners for business in the village of Woodville to display in support for Prostate Cancer Awareness and Education. 

Dear Linda and Ray,

You two are amazing people and it was my honor and pleasure helping with your Crusade, Prostate Cancer Awareness.

I wish you the best as you continue giving 100% every day

Love you both

Rich Harman

Woodville Mayor 

12/1/2019

PSA Screening for HIM Act (H.R. 5200)

The PSA Screening for HIM Act (H.R. 5200) fills a data gap that handcuffs the law from ensuring men at high risk for prostate cancer can get screened with no cost sharing requirements. We have mortality data that shows African Americans and men with a family history are at greater risk for death from prostate cancer, but we don't have a data set that shows screening prevents those deaths. Kind of backwards. To urge your Congressional representative to cosponsor the bill, use this link: https://lnkd.in/egFT2Fy

Blue ribbon

Just added one of the ribbon that Mayor Rich Harman gave me. He made them for the Village of Woodville! My blue light shines 24/7

#PCa #PCaCaregiver

Petey visited with Santa

Senate Hearing for S.C.R. 10

This is my testimony I read at the Senate Hearing meeting on November 20, 2013 for S.C.R. 10

On June 19, 2009 my life as a wife had forever changed in to a prostate cancer caregiver wife. My husband’s PSA rose from 7.91 to 8.42 in little over one month. June 15th a PSA and Biopsy were done I never gave it a thought that we would be called back to Wright-Patterson 4 days later and I needed to be there. That morning of the 19th I was not thinking that there was anything wrong! But when we get to the base it was strange to hear that the doctor cleared his morning schedule to talk with us. Thought it was strange but no RED flags here! We get into his office and sit down and he tells us…I am sorry Sergeant Hoetger your biopsy came back positive for an aggressive form of prostate cancer. Stunned, shocked, numb are just a few words that I can describe on that day. My tears started flowing. This is no news one wants to hear but for a doctor to have to tell the patient or the wife! After all the tears and trying to absorb the diagnosis he took the time to discuss the tests in depth, treatment options, questions. Ray did not want to hear any option except the prostate is causing the problem then take it out NOW! The Urologist said to become students and learn everything about prostate cancer and so that is what I did. I did research all the options and tried to share them with Ray but he did not want to hear any of them except surgery!

Ray was diagnosed at 56 years old with prostate cancer with a simple PSA blood test that the United States Preventative Task Force recommends against at any age. I do not agree with their recommendations as the wife of a Prostate Cancer Survivor and also a Mom of 4 young sons’ in their 20’s. It was devastating hearing that my husband was diagnosed but hearing it from my sons! When there is a simple PSA blood test that could save their life?

Life After Prostate Cancer ans Other Medical Conditions

Definitely a recommended reading before surgery! If you are reading it post surgey I highly recommended it as well.

I read the book as a caregiver of a 10 year prostate cancer survivor. There was information that would have been usefull to my husband and I before he had the surgery and post surgery. he has been incontinent since surgery but we have been living with it. It would have been beneficial to know the foods that cause incontinence so that we would know what to avoid. The exercises for the 10 week program is great and gives you step by step with images to follow as well. And to know that you are doing them correctly. The bladder log for incontinence is great as well, and recommended to use daily to also follow your progress. The program itself is also easy to follow weekly stages. 

My husband is just started reding the book and will also post a review to Amazon soon!

If you have read the book please post a review to Amazon as well. It is also great for women who also suffer from incontinence.