Ken Griffey Sr., Other Sports Legends Team to Launch Prostate Cancer Awareness Program

Written by: Jerry Milani on 25th June 2009

Ken Griffey Sr., Other Sports Legends Team to Launch Prostate Cancer Awareness Program | read this item

Fans of baseball in the 1970s and 1980s will recall the skill, grace and class that Ken Griffey Sr. exhibited during his 19-year playing career. A .296 lifetime hitter with outstanding bat control, occasional power and good speed and defensive prowess, Griffey was a prominent cog in Cincinnati’s Big Red Machine that dominated baseball with World Series titles in 1975 and 1976 and which remained a contender through most of the decade.

While he today remains an important part of the Reds as a roving minor league hitting, baserunning and outfield instructor, Griffey is also a key member of another team, as he has joined with football heroes Len Dawson and Rod Woodson, golfer Jim Colbert and famed boxing referee Joe Cortez to help launch “The Depend Campaign to End Prostate Cancer.” A two-year survivor of the dreaded disease himself, Griffey has made special efforts to increase awareness and encourage others to get tested.

The facts of the disease are scary. According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF), it is the most common non-skin cancer in America, affecting one in six men. A non-smoking man is more likely to develop prostate cancer than he is to develop colon, bladder, melanoma, lymphoma and kidney cancers combined. The PCF notes that a man is 35% more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than a woman is to be diagnosed with breast cancer.

In 2009, also according to the PCF, more than 192,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and more than 27,000 men will die from the disease. One new case occurs every 2.7 minutes and a man dies from prostate cancer every 19 minutes. It is estimated that there are more than two million American men currently living with prostate cancer.

Major League Baseball also ran a successful program this past Sunday, Father’s Day, to promote awareness.

Because Griffey had a family history of prostate cancer – sadly, four uncles died from the disease – and because African-Americans are more likely (one in four) to become afflicted, he went through regular screenings and was ultimately diagnosed in 2006. “Luckily, I was educated about the risks and visited my doctor every year,” he said. “We were fortunate enough to catch it in its early stages, and it saved my life.”

That message of the importance of early detection is true of most diseases, certainly cancer. Griffey preaches it whenever and wherever he can.

“I have found that it is often difficult for athletes to talk about a subject like prostate cancer,” said Griffey. “There is this macho attitude and they don’t want to talk about it. But we are here to get the word out and let them know they need to be aware and to take care of themselves.”

Griffey also emphasizes another aspect of the program that is uncomfortable for many – the incontinence that often accompanies prostate cancer surgeries and radiation treatments. This is why the Depend program is so important to him.

“Another goal of the program,” he explained, “is that, in the scenarios in which there is incontinence, we want men to be aware that they can use Depend protection as part of their recovery.”

zero_logo1 Additionally, from now through 2010, proceeds from the purchase of each package of Depend Underwear for Men and Depend Guards for Men will contribute to a final donation of $250,000 to ZERO – The Project to End Prostate cancer.

Griffey, who turned 59 in April, added that since many of his contemporaries in the game are already aware of his battle with prostate cancer, it has been easier to bring up the subject to them. But he is not limiting his outreach to the players of his era.

“Of course, because of the family history, I have spoken to both of my sons [Ken Jr. and Craig] and they get screened regularly,” he said. “But I also talk to the other players, right up to the big-time stars, and tell them that I am a prostate cancer survivor and make sure that they are aware that the best way is to get screened early.

“Since he’s still playing, ‘Junior’ gets a physical every year, but I also told him to get a PSA [prostate-specific antigen] test as well. Craig is no longer playing but is on top of his screenings too.”

Griffey and the other members of the Depend Campaign team are looking to make an impact beyond just their professional sporting brethren. Griffey will be featured in a public service announcement with Dawson, set to run in September, which is prostate cancer awareness month. He will also take part in television, radio and print interviews during the week of the All-Star game next month, talking about the program.

Yankees fans will be pleased to know that he will be making his third consecutive appearance at Old-Timer’s Day on July 19, after a long absence from the annual festivities.

Even with all these efforts, Griffey is modest about his contribution. “I’m hoping I have an impact, and I hope it’s getting through. I talk about my experience and what early detection meant for me.

“I have 14 grandchildren,” he beamed. “I want to be around them to watch them play baseball, football, basketball, and watch them grow.”

Resources:
ZERO Project: www.zerocancer.org
Depend Campaign to End Prostate Cancer: www.DependPCA.com
Prostate Cancer Foundation: www.prostatecancerfoundation.org

Topics: charity, ken griffey, prostate cancer awareness

Michael says:

July 16, 2009 at 12:48 pm

Hey Jerry, is there a video clip available of Ken Griffey Sr’s appaerance on First Take this week. I loved his very last answer. Point me in the direction of a clip because I would like to help spread the word.

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