My Name is Linda Hoetger, I am asking for your support for the 9,010 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 have become an active advocate and helping them along the way. I ask for your support yearly so that one day we can be part of a cure and zero out prostate cancer. The month of June shall be designated as “Prostate Cancer Awareness Month” per the Ohio revised code 5.2217. This is also a way to educate the citizens in the community with a Proclamation, message board announcements, newsletter announcements. The nation recognizes Prostate Cancer Awareness and Education Month in September. 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. Veterans have a great risk of prostate cancer due to Agent Orange which is a herbicide and defoliant chemical used by the military. 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. And for the thousands of Veterans battling prostate cancer alone, we need to let them know they are not alone.
In 2013, I started engaging with 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. Having the support from elected officials throughout Ohio will let the men and families impacted by prostate cancer let them know that their elected officials care and encourage the citizens to take action in awareness as well. 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 worked 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 and free transportation for prostate cancer patients to doctors appointments. On October 22, 2020 ZERO The End Of Prostate Cancer license plates was signed into law.
Once we have the 150 signatures need the license plates will be put into production through the Bureau Of Motor Vehicles. 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 or a PDF copy. Please write Do not bend on the envelope.
June is Prostate Cancer Awareness and Education Month in Ohio
September is Prostate Cancer Awareness and Education Month
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 9,010 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed and an estimated 2,000 deaths will occur in 2021; 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 of prostate cancer and we encourage the citizens of (city) to increase the importance of prostate screening.
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