Congresswoman Beatty

 

Presidential Inauguration

I am.so excited right now!!! 

January 20th Ray Hoetger and I with two others are going to the Presidential Inauguration at the White House. Today Congresswoman Joyce Beatty had a drawing for tickets and my name was the first one drawn!!!! We have to pick the tickets up at her office in DC not a problem been there many times with #Zero talking and sharing our Journey of prostate cancer. I shared with her about the Summit and she said she is putting it on her calender.

Drawing the first entry and the winner is....

Linda Hoetger

 Petey has his Going to Washington outfit. 

My choice

I made a decision that I was not going to sit back and say 'Oh Poor Me!' It’s time to take an active role in advocating for prostate cancer as a wife and mother of four young sons!

Linda Hoetger, ZERO Advocate

Petey wishes....

The Hoetger's

Ray and I are ZERO Prostate Cancer Champions in Columbus, Ohio. Each year we attend the ZERO Summit in Washington, DC on the last day, along with other patients, survivors and caregivers from Ohio and across the country. Lobby on Capitol Hill and speak with our Senators and Congress members to encourage their fight to keep funding for prostate cancer research in the FY Budget. The next ZERO The End Of Prostate Cancer Summit is February 27 - March 1, 2017 we will be there for the 5th year sharing our Journey as well.

Our Journey started June 19, 2009. I can honestly say that before my husband was diagnosed I never heard about prostate cancer. It is a disease that Guys do not want to talk about or want their loved ones talking about. When I have talked about prostate cancer to others their comment is. That is the best cancer to have! Why do they say this? Not having cancer is better! My thought to why this is said I because prostate cancer is not talked about very much. This needs to change! There are about 3 million prostate cancer patients and survivors fighting their battle daily. 30,000 men will lose their battle every year.

Three years ago I started contacting Elected officials in Ohio for a Proclamationor Resolution for Prostate Cancer Awareness month in September. Over 200 Mayors, Council Members, Trustees , Adams County Board of Commissionors have supported my efforts by sending a Proclamation or Resolution. Governor Kasich wrote the first Ohio Resolution for Prostate Cancer Awareness in 2014. Thank you to Representative Bishoff, Senator Bacon and Congresswoman Beatty for your support in raising awareness with prostate cancer.

My husband and I received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Chalmers P. Wylie Veterans Administration for raising awareness.

I ask for copies of the Proclamations and Resolutions as I share them on Capitol Hill and at different events that I attend in Ohio. We have attended ZERO Run/Walk in Ohio and I will have a table set up with them displayed. It is amazing on how much this will get men to start talking. We will share our Journey with them. And then they will share theirs. Some have even said that they have never talked about it until now and want to know how to engage with their elected officials. They thank me for doing what I am doing for the Prostate Cancer community in raising awareness. Some will ask why is there not one for my city. Sadly I will have to say either they have not responded to my request or they have declined my request as I do not live in that city or they do not support this kind of proclamation or resolution. Dissapointing to say the least, but still hopefull that one day they will change their minds! It is my hope and dream that one day ALL of Ohio will show their support for those fighting their battle, and morn with us for those who have lost their battle.

With your help we CAN make a difference in raising awareness for prostate cancer! Can I count on a commitment from you in 2017?

Santa Petey!

The Spirit of Christmas

Petey's in the Holiday Spirit!

Petey fit back into his Santa suit again this year! What Santa Petey wants for Christmas is a Cure for Prostate Cancer!

H.R 1151

Prostate Cancer Advocates,

On Wednesday, November 30, 2016 the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee held a hearing to examine the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and discuss H.R. 1151, the USPSTF Transparency and Accountability Act of 2016.

At the beginning of the hearing, Chairman Joseph Pitts (R-PA) entered ZERO’s official public comments on the legislation into the Congressional Record.

The Bill

Authored by Vice Chairwoman of the Committee Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Congressman Bobby Rush (D-IL), the bill would ensure a more informed decision around screening recommendations for the PSA-based screening for prostate cancer. The bill makes the following changes to the USPSTF:

Requires specialists and sub-specialists to be involved in reviewing the preventive services that the task force examines;
Creates a preventive services advisory board composed of patient groups like ZERO, providers, and federal agencies to ensure they are all involved with USPSTF decisions; and
Helps to ensure other Federal Government departments and agencies like the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Department of Defense (DoD), and others include their research in the recommendation process.
Witnesses

Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, PhD, MD, MAS, Chairperson of the USPSTF;
Dr. John H. Lynch, a prostate cancer survivor who is the Chairman of the Department of Urology at Georgetown University as well as a member of the American Urological Association (AUA); and
Dr. John Meigs, Jr., the President of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).
What’s Next?

ZERO will continue to stay vigilant regarding the new Administration’s plans for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and communicate with both the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the House Committee on Ways and Means. ZERO will also continue to work closely with Congresswoman Blackburn (R-TN) and Congressman Rush (D-IL) regarding how H.R. 1151 fits in the larger ACA picture.

If you have specific questions or would like more information, you can review the webcast here or send us an email at advocacy@zerocancer.org.

Kick Off To Raising Awareness For Prostate Cancer

Starting January 1st I will be sending out emails, faxes, etc contacting Elected officials requesting a Proclamation or Resolution for Prostate Cancer Awareness month. I will provide you with the information for the documents and request a copy for myself. The documents are used throughout Ohio and on Capitol Hill in raising awareness. I will also request that you light a Landmark Blue in September for awareness as well. Please share a picture with us and they will be showcased here as well.
If you would like to present your proclamation or resolution I will be more than happy to attend if possible, or if there is a prostate cancer patient in your area we can make arrangements for them to attend. It means so much for the support from our elected officials in our Journeys with this horrible disease.

Please feel free to contact me with your support
Linda
614-312-5576
Linda@zerocancer.org

Happy Thanksgiving!

Mom said she was going to be really busy on Thanksgiving. So she is posting this for me now!
Happy Thanksgiving early! Love Petey

Winter fun!

Snowboarding

Family Caregiver Month

November marks the start of National Family Caregivers Month, a month designed to recognize and honor caregivers across the country. We're thankful everyday for the caregivers dedicated to helping the men in their lives during their prostate cancer fight. Linda Hoetger is one of those people.

"[My wife Linda and I have] gone through this now for five plus years, and I couldn’t have done it without her. She inspires me and I inspire her, we’ve been a team for almost 32 years. We do it together." Hear Linda's story: The Hoetger's

Ashland, Ohio 2016

North College Hill, Ohio 2016

Petey!!

Petey did not pay attention that there was a game going on when he stormed the field for pictures!

Movember 2016

Yesterday morning IEaston is doing Movember. In 2013 I had the first Certificate written for Movember here in Ohio. So I  requestrd 5 copies from Governor Kasich's office. I received them when the mail was delivered today. I am blessed in so many ways!

Petey showing support!

He loves his State Representative! Just one simple Tweet and the rest is history.

Maple Heights, Ohio 2016

Our Journey

A couple of weeks ago my husband had an appointment at the Cancer Care Clinic at Wright-Patterson AFB. Last year in August the Doctor stopped the Hormone Therapy that he had been doing for 6 years. The doctor said he was confident that the prostate cancer in the lymph nodes was gone. And suggested to stop the Hormone treatments. Easy for him to say right! Well we took his advice with much hesitation and stopped the treatment. And advised if the PSA starts to rise he will resume treatment.

Every three months my husbands has the PSA test! There is much controversy with this test but until there is some thing else this is all we have. Waiting for the results is also hard as there is so much anxiety until the results are in.

One year later the doctor reports that the PSA is still Undetectable and see no reason to return for a check up for another year. Continue the PSA tests and if it starts to rise come back and they will resume treatment.

Though my husband shows No Evidence of Disease (NOD) we still continue in fight to raise awareness. We are the parents of four sons, and grandparents of two grandsons. my husband is grandfather of three grandsons our two and grandson from a previous marriage. In the time that we started our Journey we have met so many families who are battling prostate cancer as well. Many we share the Anniversary of their Survivorsary and morn the passing of their loved ones with them.
  

Coming Soon

It is truly a bless to know that the support is growing for raising awareness for prostate cancer. 

Maple Heights, Ohio

North College Hill, Ohio

Ironton, Ohio 2016

Coshocton, Ohio 2016

Senator Bacon

Today I had a meeting with Senator Bacon. He thanked me for all my hard work on such an important issue of prostate cancer.

Harrison, Ohio 2016

ZERO Run/Walk Cincinnati, Ohio

Ken Griffey Sr. was at the Run/Walk in Cincinnati today. Ken is an 11 year Survivor of Prostate Cancer. While talking with Survivors today I met one who has been on his Journey for 26 years! We need to have more men speak up and tell their Journey!

Flag over Capitol Hill!

 I received the Flag today from September 28, 2016. For our 33rd Wedding Anniversary and To Honor those fighting and lost their lives from Prostate Cancer. I requested a Flag from Congresswoman Beatty to be flown over Capitol Hill. Thank you to ZERO The End of Prostate Cancer, Matt Marks, and the Capitol Hill Officer for taking the picture of the Flag waving in the wind! Thank you Congresswoman Beatty also for requesting it for us!

I have met and lost so many friends from Prostate Cancer it is hard to hear that one of our fiends has passed for this horrible disease. Or to find out that one of our friends has Joined the Club that No Man wants to join. This is my way of letting you know that You are not ALONE In your fight. (((Prostate Cancer Community)))

Bratenahl, Ohio 2016

Wife/Caregiver

This is my story through Caregiver perspective

The Work Continues

Prostate Cancer Awareness month might be over but for the Prostate Cancer Community the work continues. Currently there still is not enough done or said about prostate cancer. We do not have the full support of the Media. There needs to be more Survivor, Caregiver, and family stories shared. I share my Journey with prostate cancer as a caregiver at different events. 

  

On June 19, 2009, my husband was 56 years old and diagnosed with an aggressive from of prostate cancer. He is also the first generation diagnosed in his family with two younger brothers with no known history of the disease. It was hard enough hearing that my husband has prostate cancer and I never want to hear those words in our Golden years of life. The moment when I heard those words, it felt like I hit a brick wall full force. After realizing, that this was not a nightmare or a horrible dream, and that there was no waking up from it. The shock was starting raise its ugly head as well. There were so many questions running through my head that to this day I still have no answers! The doctor explained all the options for treatment. Seven years ago, today he chose to have a prostatectomy. We were hoping for good news that the cancer had not escaped the prostate. Unfortunately that was not the news that I heard from the surgeon. It has escaped the prostate to the lymph nodes. We knew the risks of the surgery, but he chose life over death. Since his surgery, he has a PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) test every three months. During this waiting period, it is so stressful for both of us. The results return that it is still undetectable and a sigh of relief for now. Until there is another test, available this is all we have and I will continue to advocate for the PSA. Other critical facts with this disease we are the parents of four sons, grandparents of two grandsons, my husband has a grandson from a previous marriage. One of our grandsons has prostate cancer on both sides of the family and is Bi-racial. 1in 7 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. Therefore, as you can see with all these men in my life these are more reasons to why I will continue to fight to raise awareness I never want our sons to have to utter those devastating words to their wives or children

My husband is a Veteran and there is a high possibility that the prostate cancer is Agent Orange related. He applied to the Agent Orange Board and informed that since he never stepped Boots in Vietnam he does not qualify for compensation. He was a firefighter in the Air Force in the early 70’s. While he stationed in England, the fire station received a call that there was a Semi on fire filled with barrels. This is where my husband may been exposed to Agent Orange and was what the cause for action. He attended the interview with the Board and this is where it all went wrong. The interviewer asked if he stepped boots in Vietnam. No boots on the ground. It is impossible to have come in contact since you were never in Vietnam. Then he proceeded to inform the interviewer of the fire. This response was priceless! What color were the barrels? Were they orange? No, they were Black! Well since they were not orange, how do you know it was Agent Orange? Well they do not call the fire department out before the fire to see what color the barrels are. Final outcome Denied!! Later while doing research to find out more I found a website that there was Agent Orange on bases that it was stored on and stationed at during his career. Therefore, this also leads me to believe that it is possible he encountered Agent Orange. I have the list of bases that it was stored at and will fight to help my husband and others who never stepped boots on the ground in Vietnam. I know that if he ends up qualifying for compensation it will help with the medical treatments, medications, and incontinent supplies that he is taking/using to help with the side effects from the prostate cancer. The way that I look at it we can deal with the ED and incontinence as it is better than the other outcome of this horrible disease. DEATH! I do not want to be a Widow at 53, we still have our Golden Years ahead of us.

    

Enon, Ohio 2016

Garfield Heights, Ohio 2016

Twitter

Check out @zerocancerrun's Tweet: https://twitter.com/zerocancerrun/status/785482530023616513?s=09

Urbancrest, Ohio 2016

Quaker City, Ohio 2016

Buckeye Lake, Ohio 2016

Beachwood, Ohio 2016

Will be posted on their website until December!
http://www.beachwoodohio.com/252/Proclamations

ZERO The End Of Prostate Cancer

Petey The Prostate Crusader - created by ZERO advocate Linda Hoetger - has been traveling the country for months, spreading prostate cancer awareness from New York City to Ohio to DC and everywhere in between. Are you educating your community about the disease? If so, how? We want to hear from you! If you're not currently but you want to join the movement, visit our website for more information: http://zerocancer.org/. #endprostatecancer

Orchard Hights Farm

Steamtown National Historic Park 2016

Petey did not find any Pokemon on the train ride!