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Pushing awareness of a killer; fighting one woman's crusade
© St. Petersburg Times As the head of the Florida Prostate Cancer Network and a prostate cancer survivor, Bob Samuels has an instant connection to well-known people who are diagnosed with the disease. On Tuesday, it was Florida State University president and former state House Speaker T.K. Wetherell. Earlier this month, it was presidential hopeful and Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, as well as evangelist Pat Robertson. Samuels calls these headline stories snapshots, but he wants people to take a broader look. "We need people to get a better view of the big picture," Samuels said Tuesday. "This is the No. 1 non-skin cancer in the nation. Those stories mention three people, but 230,000 people will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year, and 30,000 people will die from it." Samuels is again coordinating the annual African-American Men's Health Forum, scheduled for March 8 at the Hillsborough Community College Dale Mabry campus. But Samuels is also pushing a state bill that would provide funding for creating greater awareness of prostate cancer. The bill would help fund the health forum and alert men that the cure rate for prostate cancer is exceptionally high when diagnosed early. No one knows that better than 37-year-old Ricky Reynolds, the Blake High football coach and former Buccaneer whose cancer was diagnosed last summer. "It was a tough thing to experience," said Reynolds, who started having prostate exams when he was 35 because his father was diagnosed with prostate cancer. "But I feel the need to speak out. I have a 36-year-old brother who has not been tested because he's fearful of the results. "But if I hadn't been tested, I could have been standing here today with cancer inside of me and not know it. It's okay to be tested" Reynolds has allowed his picture to be featured on a poster for the forum, which will also give men a chance to be tested for colon cancer, diabetes and high blood pressure. However, Samuels and the network may not be able to keep finding sponsor dollars for posters, or the event itself. Last year, he threatened there might not be a forum without state funding. The bill passed the House in 2002, but it stalled in a Senate committee. With the state budget even tighter this year, the bill faces an uphill battle. But Samuels notes that the state could "spend pennies today and save dollars and lives down the road." If men, particularly those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, aren't diagnosed early, they could end up in a lengthy and costly battle against cancer that the state may have to fund. "The Florida Health Department tells us every year you guys are doing a great job," Samuels said. "But they aren't doing anything to help us. It's almost criminal, but I can't blame (the state) if people don't speak up and hold them accountable." While the event is targeted toward black men, who are diagnosed with prostate cancer at twice the rate of others, Samuels has outreach efforts to Hispanics and Haitians, and he was quick to note the forum is open to everyone. New Tampa resident Todd Manzi is unemployed and isn't looking right now. Since the end of September, his sole focus has been battling Martha Burk, the National Council of Women's Organizations chairwoman who has been sparring with Augusta National Country Club, home of the Masters, over its refusal to admit women as members. Manzi has two Web sites, theburkstopshere.com and ittakesballs.com, and his primary claim is that Burk does not speak for the 7-million women she claims to represent. He notes the NCWO is an organization of organizations and that many members are unaware of Burk's protest. "I get tired of special-interest groups who claim to represent certain groups being able to have the power to do this kind of extortion," Manzi said. Manzi even has gone so far as to apply for a protest permit from the Augusta-Richmond County Sheriff's Office so he can protest Burk during the Masters in April. He'll look for a job in May, after the tourney. By the way, Manzi doesn't play golf. That's all I'm saying. -- Ernest Hooper can be reached at (813) 226-3406 or hooper@sptimes.com .
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
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