An Emotional Mission

Before we left to attend the Inauguration in Washington, DC. I got a phone call to do an interview. This was part from the 6pm news cast on 10TV

Family heads to Inauguration in the name of cancer awareness

Raising awareness for prostate cancer

Petey's new rides

Petey loves to raise awareness for prostate cancer and will travel the country doing so. February 27 -March 1 is the ZERO Summit in Washington, DC and for the 6th year he will be on Capitol Hill raising awareness. And of course doing a little sightseeing as he does in his Petey way he will be taking pictures of his trip. Many times people will see Mom (me) taking pictures for Petey and they will know exactly why a Walnut. Some will get curious and ask, great oppturnity to share our Journey with them and get them talking as well.

Is it worth it?

There is one thing Petey won't gamble on. Forgetting to have his PSA test done. Have you had your done lately?

Facts for 2017

Facts for 2017

Facts for 2017

Facts for 2017

Facts for 2017

Facts for 2017

Facts for 2017

Facts for 2017

PSA

PSA testing was recommended for all men over 50.

Honestly I wish a PSA test are started earlier! My 4 sons are in their 20's and 30's, and a 1 year old bi-racial grandsosn with prostste cancer on both sides of the family.

And for men over 40 with a family history of prostate cancer.

Concern some men do not share if they have been diagnosed with prostate cancer with their family.  So you may not know if there is a family history! Ray has no known family history of prostate cancer. The only thing we are thinking on his diagnosis is that he was in the Military. He is the only one of 3 brothers in the military and the only one with an aggrrssive form of prostate cancer.

Ray was at work one day talking with one of his co-workers about prostate cancer. The guy in his 30-40's said he was going to talk with his dad about prostate cancer. So that night he talked with this dad. The son got shocking news, his dad told him he was diagnosed with prostate cancer 20 years earlier but never told the family.

How many other young sons do not know if their father has prostate cancer? Or if they are adopted and what is the family history. Or if the father is not in the sons life at all and has not given any family history.

Things needs to change. Do you know if there is a family history?

Early detection is key!

If someone in your life has been diagnosed with prostate cancer please share this post to encourage all 40+ year old men to get screened during 2017. Early detection is the key to beating prostate cancer.

Happy New Year 2017

Happy New Year to all my elected official FB friends. And best of Luck in the next General Assembly in Ohio. Looking forward to working with you for prostate cancer awareness. One day I hope that there is a cure found. This will be my 8th year of being a caregiver of a Survivor. Our Journey has not been easy as we deal with the side effects from the surgery, we knew the risks. But it was much better than DEATH! Since our Journey began we have met many men battling the disease sadly some of them have lost their battle. Some a short time after their diagnosis. My heart breaks every time I learn of their passing.

Each year along with others from the prostate cancer community attends the ZERO Summit in Washington, DC. We share our Journeys on Capitol Hill encouraging them to keep the funding for prostate cancer for research and finding a cure in the FY budget.

Soon I will be sending out my request for a Proclamation or Resolution for September, also ask that you light a Landmark Blue or tie Blue ribbons in your town to show your support for the Prostate Cancer community. I know with your help we can help let the prostate cancer community know that others care and they are not ALONE! I also ask for copies of the Proclamations and Resolutions as I share them at different events and on Capitol Hill to show the support from Ohio.

Thank you for your support from the prostate cancer community!

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