Veterans Prostate Cancer Awareness

Veterans Prostate Cancer Awareness

Non-profit Organizations

San Diego, CA 1,200 followers

Prostate Cancer Awareness, Education, Solutions

About us

Veterans Prostate Cancer Awareness was founded in 2016 to grow awareness and education around prostate cancer within Veterans, active-duty military, and the public. We also promote the adoption of the latest technologies available for treatment and cure of prostate cancer. As a small nonprofit we work with leading industry organizations and the Veteran Healthcare System to promote new technology. Our goal is to communicate with the 19 Million Veterans in our country about Prostate Cancer and that they are at a higher-risk.

Website
https://linktr.ee/VPCA
Industry
Non-profit Organizations
Company size
2-10 employees
Headquarters
San Diego, CA
Type
Nonprofit
Founded
2016
Specialties
Education, Prostate Cancer, Veterans Prostate Cancer, Healthcare, Veterans Healthcare Administration, Cancer, Male Healthcare , Community Care Network, Cancer Staging, and Cancer Treatment

Locations

Employees at Veterans Prostate Cancer Awareness

Updates

  • Veterans Prostate Cancer Awareness is excited to engage the healthcare community to address guidelines, screening technologies, and additional research efforts around reducing the number of cases presenting as metastatic on first diagnosis. #GetScreened #WhatsYourNumber #VeteransProstateCancer

    View profile for Michael Crosby, graphic

    Founder & CEO @ Veterans Prostate Cancer Awareness Inc

    Editorial Comment on “Should Military Veterans Be Classified as High Risk for Prostate Cancer Screening? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis” It's time we address this issue and start to include Veterans in the "high risk" category of prostate cancer screening. Stay tuned for some activities related to addressing the disparity of Veterans prostate cancer screening, standardization of prostate cancer screening guidelines, research into new and optimized biomarkers for screening, and research into new diagnostic technologies for prostate cancer diagnosis and staging.

    Editorial Comment on “Should Military Veterans Be Classified as High Risk for Prostate Cancer Screening? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis”

    Editorial Comment on “Should Military Veterans Be Classified as High Risk for Prostate Cancer Screening? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis”

    sciencedirect.com

  • Veterans Day 2024 - Honoring Veterans, Renewing Our Mission: Addressing the Hidden Battles Today, on Veterans Day, we stand together to honor the courage, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment of those who have served and are serving our country. It is a day to remember the brave men and women who have fought for our freedom and to reflect on the challenges they continue to face after their service. Among these challenges is a deeply personal and urgent battle: the fight against prostate cancer and the toll it takes on both physical and mental health. As a Veteran and a survivor of prostate cancer, I have seen firsthand the struggles that come with this diagnosis. It is not just a physical fight—it is a battle that impacts every facet of life, including our mental health. Today, we must acknowledge the rising crisis of suicide among our Veterans, particularly those grappling with the weight of a cancer diagnosis. Veterans already face an elevated risk of suicide which increases when compounded by the burden of a life-changing illness. For many Veterans, a prostate cancer diagnosis can bring feelings of isolation, fear, and hopelessness. The challenges of treatment, the impact on one’s family, and the loss of a sense of control can be overwhelming. This Veterans Day, I am proud to announce that VPCa is resuming full operations with a renewed commitment to addressing not only the physical health challenges but also the emotional and mental struggles faced by Veterans. Our mission will prioritize: - Risk-stratified screening and comprehensive care, ensuring Veterans receive the support they need from the start. - Educational initiatives to raise awareness about the mental health impacts of prostate cancer, providing tools and resources to navigate these challenges. - Programs and support networks designed to combat isolation and offer community, hope, and strength to those facing their toughest battles. Our work will include a dedicated focus on suicide prevention, ensuring that every Veteran diagnosed with prostate cancer has access to the mental health care and peer support they need to persevere. We cannot allow any Veteran to feel forgotten, unsupported, or overwhelmed by this journey. Together, we can save lives, not only by identifying the cancer early and encouraging the most advanced cancer treatments, but by addressing the hidden battles of the mind. To every Veteran, every caregiver, and every family member—know that we stand with you. Our mission continues, stronger and more focused than ever. We will fight for better care, better outcomes, and a future where no Veteran faces prostate cancer or its impact on their mental health alone. We will Make Veterans Healthy Again! Thank you for your service, your resilience, and your courage. Today, we honor you, and every day, we will work to protect and uplift you. With unwavering respect and commitment, Mike "Bing" Crosby, CDR USN ret Founder Veterans Prostate Cancer Awareness (VPCa)

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  • Do you know when the Prostate Specific Antigen "PSA" test was developed? The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test is one of the most familiar of urology's milestones. Millions of men have benefited from early prostate cancer detection because of this revolutionary—albeit somewhat controversial—blood test. The research that produced this simple tool is relatively recent. Before 1986, when the Food and Drug Administration approved the PSA test for monitoring prostate cancer, no blood test existed for the disease. It's my contention that we as a society need to recognize its time to look for the next set of technologies to identify and classify prostate cancer. The following is an excerpt from the AUA's William P. Didusch Center for Urologic History archives. "Before the PSA test, the digital rectal exam was the only screening available and would detect cancer often when tumors were too advanced for cure. Prostatic acid phosphotase (PAP) proved to be a sensitive blood-serum marker for advanced prostate cancer, but did little for early detection since it missed localized tumors. So, there's little surprise that the discovery of prostate-specific antigen "PSA", an enzyme manufactured by the prostate and secreted in excess into the bloodstream when cancer is present, would turn into such a valuable screen for men. The PSA test is the product of many minds collaborating over many decades. In 1970 immunologist Richard J. Ablin, of the State University of New York, Buffalo, initially observed PSA. Roswell Park's T. Ming Chu, with other investigators, set out to extend Ablin's observations. Their goal? To develop a blood test for early prostate cancer detection." I believe it's time to apply some effort, and research to find an extremely accurate screening protocol to find prostate cancer early when studies have shown and most agree it can be cured. Waiting and finding the disease after metastasizes is a significant issue and in my humble opinion is unacceptable. With what I believe is available technology we need to investigate a change to prostate cancer screening and diagnosis. We have been living with and putting up with a standard that is NOT 99% effective and was developed over 50 years ago. Let's agree there needs to be an effort to redefine prostate cancer screening and a parallel effort to ensure all the agencies, associations, and advocacy partners agree on a common set of guidelines for both the general population and those men who are at a higher risk of developing the disease, like veterans. Please support Veterans Prostate Cancer Awareness and our efforts this year to address the disparity associated with screening for this disease and the differences and disparity among all the entities who are charged with establishing and promoting "Screening Guidelines". #WhatsYourNumber #GetScreened #VeteransProstateCancer

  • Keep fighting SNMMI, its another win in the battle for access to Nuclear Medicine!!

    View profile for Michael Crosby, graphic

    Founder & CEO @ Veterans Prostate Cancer Awareness Inc

    Congratulations SNMMI and great news for Prostate Cancer Patients! In Major Win for Patients, CMS Adjusts Nuclear Medicine Reimbursement Policy, Expanding Access to Life-Saving Scans Reston, VA (November 1, 2024)—The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) is celebrating a landmark victory for patients and care providers as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a significant adjustment to the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (HOPPS). Under the new policy, CMS will unbundle and pay separately for diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals with per-day costs exceeding $630, removing financial barriers that have long hindered patient access to essential nuclear medicine diagnostic procedures. “This decision is a critical victory for patients who need advanced diagnostic care,” said SNMMI President Cathy Sue Cutler, PhD. “We commend CMS for this significant move to improve access to life-saving nuclear medicine scans, ensuring that patients across the country can receive the best possible care.” Nuclear medicine imaging, including cutting-edge PET and other nuclear medicine scans, is often the most accurate and cost-effective way to diagnose complex diseases, providing critical insights that can inform and shape patient treatment. However, under the previous reimbursement system, diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals were bundled as “supplies,” limiting access in several ways: In the past, Physicians were less likely to administer these procedures due to inadequate reimbursement and hospitals sometimes were forced to discontinue certain nuclear medicine procedures, as Medicare reimbursement did not cover the full cost of these high-value drugs (radiopharmaceuticals). SNMMI will continue to work closely with CMS to refine and enhance the reimbursement models, ensuring sustained and equitable access to advanced diagnostic care for all patients.

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  • It appears that this legislative report fails to mention prostate cancer, despite it being the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the VA system. This oversight is alarming, as prostate cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men in the U.S., with Veterans disproportionately affected. The 2023 Department of Defense (DOD) study on aviators and aviation personnel underscores that Veterans face unique, elevated cancer risks which can only come from exposures while conducting their jobs. Unfortunately, its our position that prostate cancer screening guidelines for Veterans remain inadequate and simply claiming they are in line with the USPSTF recommendations is unsatisfactory. It is also unacceptable that there is still no legislative champion addressing the need to classify Veterans as a high-risk population for prostate cancer. Without this designation, countless Veterans are missing crucial early screenings that could save lives. Advanced screening technologies are available, but without mandated, earlier screening protocols for all Veterans, we are missing a critical opportunity to catch this disease before it becomes life-threatening. It's time to hold policymakers accountable for meaningful action on this issue. Please join us Veterans Prostate Cancer Awareness to address these critical short falls in our overall screening policies in the Veterans Healthcare Administration, and for all Veterans. Just imagine the number of lives that could be saved, the reduction of metastatic prostate cancer cases, and the years added to our nations heroes lives, if we simply made a policy change. All it would take is a policy modification on an "8 1/2 x 11" piece of paper directing all Veterans over the age of 40 who want healthcare from the VA, simply undergo a PSA blood test commencing at the age of 40 and repeat it annually. There are over 16,000 men in the VHA today dealing with the metastatic form of prostate cancer. Financial studies have shown the average cost of complete care for a man with advanced prostate cancer is approximately $200,000 a year. That equates to cost of $3.2 Billion in treating just metastatic prostate cancer patients in the VHA. There is NO REASON any Veteran should be diagnosed with a metastatic form of prostate cancer. Help us make a change in 2025. #KnowYourNumber #WhatsYourNumber #GetScreened The Congressional report can be found here https://lnkd.in/g58aT6EQ

    CRPT-118hrpt528.pdf

    CRPT-118hrpt528.pdf

    congress.gov

  • Prostate Cancer and the VA: Honoring Veterans by Protecting Their Health As we approach Veterans Day, it’s essential to reflect on not just the sacrifices Veterans have made but also on the challenges they face post-service, including health issues that impact them disproportionately. One of these is prostate cancer—a disease that has been shown to affect Veterans at a higher rate than their civilian counterparts and is the most diagnosed cancer within the VA healthcare system. Within the VA healthcare system, we have an opportunity to change the narrative around prostate cancer. VA doctors and healthcare providers are dedicated professionals, but the current screening and diagnostic practices often follow guidelines that may not sufficiently address the unique risks Veterans carry. For example, the Department of Defense's recent study on aviators and aviation personnel revealed significantly elevated cancer rates, highlighting the need for earlier, more precise screening in high-risk groups. So, what can we do? First, there needs to be an increased focus on early detection. PSA screening, once discouraged, is now understood to be a valuable tool when used appropriately for Veterans, especially those over 40. The VA’s integration of advanced diagnostics like PSMA imaging could also play a crucial role in detecting prostate cancer at earlier stages, potentially before it spreads and becomes harder to treat. Furthermore, we must support Veteran-specific research into prostate cancer risk factors, pushing for innovative studies that consider service-related exposures. This research is critical to developing screening protocols that could save lives. VPCa is planning to introduce clinical research to detect, diagnose, and defeat prostate cancer as early as possible with the highest probability of success and the best accuracy. We are also pushing for specific funding to determine the causal factors of the higher incidence rate in aviation personnel initially and will expand to all the other job specialties in the military. This Veterans Day, let’s not just thank Veterans for their service; let’s commit to improving the quality of their healthcare. Through smarter screening, early intervention, and cutting-edge diagnostic tools, we can honor Veterans by helping ensure their post-service years are not overshadowed by a preventable battle with prostate cancer.

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  • Veterans Prostate Cancer Awareness reposted this

    As a former U.S. Navy fighter pilot, Michael Crosby had faced many traumatic situations, but nothing could have prepared him for the moment his doctor said the word "cancer.“ Through his own experience, Mike recognized there was a lack of awareness amongst Veterans about their increased risk of prostate cancer and set out to do something about it by establishing a patient advocacy organization called Veterans Prostate Cancer Awareness. During Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, Telix is sitting down with patients, advocates and physicians to shed light on the current unmet needs in prostate cancer. To read more about what Mike and Telix are doing to help patients visit: https://lnkd.in/gWTGbgSN

  • START THE CONVERSATION It's important to share your concerns when a Veteran in your life seems to be experiencing mental health challenges or is in crisis. Family members, friends and those close to Veterans are often the first to notice signs that a Veteran is going through challenges. When you notice changes in a Veteran's behaviors, attitudes or moods, it's a good time to offer your support. Have a conversation about your concerns, and let the Veteran know you’re there for them. If have questions on what to do and what are the symptoms, visit https://lnkd.in/d4E3xe7, for examples of what to look for, listen to stories of others who have faced the exact same situation, and find resources of where to reach out for help. #vpca #WhatsYourNumber #getscreened

    Make the Connection | Videos & Info for Military Veterans

    Make the Connection | Videos & Info for Military Veterans

    maketheconnection.net

  • Veterans Prostate Cancer Awareness reposted this

    View profile for Michael Crosby, graphic

    Founder & CEO @ Veterans Prostate Cancer Awareness Inc

    PSMA precision imaging needs to be used earlier in prostate cancer diagnosis! Prostate cancer, a common cancer among men, emphasizes the importance of early detection. PSMA precision imaging offers a highly accurate view of the cancer, enabling targeted treatment. Despite its benefits, PSMA imaging remains underutilized in early diagnosis. The benefits of PSMA imaging are profound. It surpasses traditional techniques by identifying cancer cells that might otherwise be overlooked. By targeting specific proteins on prostate cancer cells, it provides a detailed picture of the cancer's location and extent. Early adoption of PSMA imaging could detect aggressive cancers sooner, facilitating personalized and effective treatment plans while reducing unnecessary biopsies or surgeries. Although PSMA imaging has proven valuable in advanced cases, pushback from government healthcare programs like CMS persists due to high costs and limited long-term data. A forward-thinking approach is crucial to bridge the gap between medical innovation and healthcare policy, ensuring that patient outcomes are prioritized over short-term costs. Ultimately, the debate on PSMA imaging revolves around saving lives. With prostate cancer posing a significant health threat, the early adoption of advanced diagnostic tools like PSMA imaging can truly make a substantial difference in improving outcomes and potentially saving lives. Having personally had 4 PSMA precision images in my cancer journey, my care team and I can attest to the fact of it changing my treatment course with each image. I would not be authoring this "BLOG" had they not aggressively approached a difficult to find and an aggressive / persistent prostate cancer. Visit Veterans Prostate Cancer Awareness to learn more. #PSMA #Getscreened #WhatsYourNumber

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  • September is all about raising awareness! 💙 VPCA is committed to educating men, especially Veterans, about the importance of early detection. Prostate cancer can be treated more effectively when caught early, which is why we’re doubling down on our message this month. We are dedicated to raising awareness through education, community, partnership, and numerous resources to save as many lives as possible. 💪 Join us in the fight—spread awareness and donate today: www.vpca.vet #ProstateCancerAwarenessMonth #EarlyDetection #Nonprofit #VPCA #LinkedinCommunity #VeteranSupport

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