HEALTH and FITNESS
Harold P Freeman, M.D., is the President and Founder of The Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care and Prevention in New York City and Founder of The Harold P. Freeman Patient Navigation Institute. He is also the Senior Advisor to the Director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and Director of the NCI Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities. Dr. Freeman is a past National President of the American Cancer Society. He served for 11 years as Chairman of the U.S. President’s Cancer Panel. Dr. Freeman pioneered the Patient Navigation Program.
Dr. Freeman recently took time out of his busy schedule to answer questions for this very important interview.
Black Men In America.com: Dr. Freeman, you are the Senior Advisor to the Director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and former Director of the NCI Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities. What is the number one health risk affecting black men?
Dr. Harold Freeman: Although the number one health risk affecting black men is smoking related disease such as lung cancer, prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in black men.
Black Men In America.com: What are the risk factors for prostate cancer?
Dr. Harold Freeman: One of the main risk factors associated with prostate cancer is older age. Men over the age of 65 are more likely to get prostate cancer than younger ages. Changes in the prostate or genetic changes may also increase a man’s risk for prostate cancer. Having a family member such as a father, brother, or son can increase risk as well.
Black Men In America.com: What are the symptoms?
Dr. Harold Freeman: There are no symptoms associated with early stages of prostate cancer. Some symptoms associated with later stages of prostate cancer mainly include urinary symptoms such as frequent urination, painful urination, trouble urinating or a weak urine flow. Other symptoms include difficulty having an erection, blood in urine or semen, and frequent pain in the back, hips, or legs.
Black Men In America.com: What are the incidence and mortality rates for black men?
Dr. Harold Freeman: The incidence rate of prostate cancer among African Americans is 232.8per 100,000 men with a mortality rate of 51.1per 100,000 men. These rates are in comparison to an incidence rate of 163.1per 100,000 and a mortality rate of 23.6 per 100,000 for all men regardless of race.
Black Men In America.com: What is some of the latest research on prostate cancer?
Dr. Harold Freeman: A recent study conducted by researchers at the National Cancer Institute found that a common genetic variation may be involved in developing prostate cancer. This study was one of the first to explain the biological mechanism underlying the difference in risk among individuals. Information about this study is available at http://www.cancer.gov/newscenter/pressreleases/MSMBProstateYeager.
Black Men In America.com: Why do black men have higher incidence and mortality rates?
Dr. Harold Freeman: It is not known why African American men have a higher incidence of prostate cancer. It is thought that higher prostate cancer mortality rates among African American men may be mostly due to late diagnosis and treatment.
Black Men In America.com: Where do black men go for additional information on prostate cancer?
Dr. Harold Freeman: For more information, African American men may visit www.cancer.gov or call 1-800-4-cancer to speak with a specialist regarding prostate cancer. Through the website and phone number, men can order free publications about prostate or other cancers.
Black Men In America.com: What’s the official word on prostate cancer screening?
Dr. Harold Freeman: There is still some uncertainty regarding prostate cancer screening. Ongoing clinical trials are trying to determine whether prostate cancer screening reduces the number of deaths from this disease. The most important message is that men—and African American men in particular—speak with a physician regarding prostate cancer screening options.
Black Men In America.com: Can you talk about the importance of the NCI’s Patient Navigation Program?
Dr. Harold Freeman: NCI’s Patient Navigation Program aims to develop interventions to reduce or eliminate cancer health disparities and test their efficacy and cost-effectiveness. Patient navigators eliminate barriers to timely screening, diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The principal barriers are: financial (such as lack of insurance); communication barriers; medical system barriers (such as lost results, failure to get timely consultations); and fear, distrust and emotional barriers. This program is important in the quest for standard, equal care for all.
Publisher’s Note: Thank you James Alexander, of the Multicultural Media Outreach Team of the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Office of Communications and Education, Office of Partnerships and Dissemination Initiatives.
You can stay current and get the latest updates from the NCI Twitter page located at www.twitter.com/ncimcmedia.
Black Doctor.org is a powerful new resource for Black Health providing strategies, tactics and advice to help you live happier, healthier lives.
Get the latest information from Black Doctor.org from our Healthy Living section at www.blackmeninamerica.com/health.htm#BDO.
March 14, 2008 (This story is by Kai Wright | TheRoot.com, a great web site serving our community).
As the nation pours over the dirty details of yet another political sex scandal, federal health officials this week quietly made some sex news that matters. A study discovered that more than one in four teenage girls has a sexually transmitted infection. And sadly, researchers found blacks once again hardest hit by a health problem: A whopping half of African American teens in the study had an STI.
The study is just the latest on a growing list of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention investigations that have found the sexual health of black youth to be in critical condition. You name it, and we’re more likely to get it. HIV/AIDS? Yup, we’re 69 percent of newly diagnosed cases among teens. Syphilis? While it’s holding steady or declining in other racial groups, it’s shooting up among black teens, particularly boys. Teen pregnancies? Rates went up for the first time in 14 years in 2006, and black girls saw the highest spike.
Click here to read the rest of the story at The Root.com.
One Woman’s Battle with Bipolar Disorder
Last year I broke down and filed for disability insurance benefits declaring never to put myself through another tour of duty on some job that I would unavoidably be asked to leave by a disgruntled employer because the ugliness of my illness had reared its head.
It is during these days, which have now accumulated into 4 months, that I find myself wallowing in the sheets and covers of my daybed, not quite in slumber, but in an endless pursuit of wonder over what it is exactly that I will do with my day. Far too often it winds up being little more than swallowing my daily medications behind a cup of coffee and returning to my pile of covers awaiting sunset in a grueling mental anguish over death – my death, that is – and wondering when this scenario will be replaced by one more befitting of the bright, promising and capable person I once knew to exist before mental illness set in.
It had been about a month since my most recent employer had fired me. I lost my health benefits and was left with no alternative but to return to the state mental health clinic for services. On the evening of my termination I left the office in a state of shock, not so much for the fact I was terminated, for I knew that was imminent, but just by the manner in which it all took place. I didn’t ask any questions and just said “yes” and “ok” to everything the office administrator said, relinquished my ID and office key, gathered my belongings and strutted out of the building never to look back. When I got in my car I was so shaken up that I ran into a pillar in the parking lot and scratched the entire back side of my new car and just prayed that I would make it home without causing an accident.
Paranoia and mania also had begun to set in and I put about 500 miles on my car in about 12 hours in an endless attempt to avoid being caught by the police. Caught for having done what I do not know. I stopped on three occasions to take a nap, and on the final rest stop, I parked my car at a meter under a bridge. I was so disillusioned about the police being after me and took off in meteoric pace when I had awakened from this last nap as a van pulled up in front of my car that had “HOMELAND SECURITY” written across its side, convinced that local pursuit of me had now reached the federal level. I finally gave in to my exhaustive, paranoid run and arrived at my psychiatrist’s office to receive a heavily sedative injection that would stay in my system for a month and help me with my thought processes.
With the prevalence of the mental illness known as bipolar disorder among the many societies across the country, versions of stories like the one above may seem normal or be typical experiences to those with this condition.
“Bipolar disorder is an illness marked by extreme changes in mood, thought, energy and behavior. It is not, as often it is thought to be, a character flaw or sign of personal weakness. Bipolar disorder is also known as manic depression because a person’s mood can alternate between the “poles” mania (highs) and depression (lows). This change in mood or “mood swing” can last for hours, days, weeks or months. Bipolar disorder affects more than two million adult Americans. It usually begins in late adolescence. An equal number of men and women develop this illness, and it is found among all ages, races, ethnic groups and social classes. The illness tends to run in families and appears to have a genetic link. Like depression and other serious illnesses, bipolar disorder can also negatively affect spouses and partners, family members, friends and coworkers.”
For more information visit www.blackmeninamerica.com/bipolar.htm
Bipolar Disorder Links
Starting A Fitness Program
By Melanie Marchand
Melanie A. Marchand is the Founder and President of Sisters in Shape Fitness Consulting. She acquired an MBA from Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1991, and has been a fitness instructor for over 15 years. Melanie holds certifications in Lifestyle and Weight Management Consulting, Personal Training, Step Reebok, Aerobics, Spinning and CPR. Melanie is a certified Personal Trainer. She received her certification from the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
Greetings and welcome to the fitness section of Black Men in America.com. I am elated to be a part of this progressive, informative web site. With the passage of time, we will be discussing health & fitness (H&F) from A to Z. As you aspire to become healthier, the who, what, why, when and how of H&F will help you to either get started on the right track, or keep going with a more effective, balanced program. I promote a balanced approach to eating and a scientific approach to both cardio and weight training.
So, what does it mean to be fit? Take a moment and consider how you would respond to this question. To me, fitness means having balance in your life to the point where everything is fine-tuned and properly aligned, such that at any given time, your health will not deter you from living your life in the best way possible. A fit person feels balanced physically, mentally and spiritually. A fit person can act on demand without negativity, drama, or loathing. A fit person is generally happy and pain-free. A fit person is conscientious about life, and cares about what he or she puts into his or her body and mind. A fit person is connected to the universe and flourishes with good thoughts, optimism and compassion. I can go on and on and on, but you see where I’m headed.
Let’s talk about the basics of physical fitness for now. In order to be successful in attaining your physical fitness goals, you must address four key areas:
- Proper nutrition – to boost your metabolism
- Cardiovascular conditioning – to promote fat burning
- Resistance training – to increase lean muscle mass
- Stretching – to increase or maintain range of motion, decrease risk of injury, and promote muscle development.
Flexibility by Melanie Marchand
The word balance can be applied to many parts of life like eating, posture, the way you approach something, your thinking, your muscle symmetry, etc. Regardless of the association, the bottom line is that balance is a good thing. In this issue of In The Groove, we emphasize the beauty of stretching, which helps to balance muscle groups and keep your body pain and injury free so that you may reach your fitness goals with a smile. With a consistent stretching routine, you feel good all the time and do not suffer tremendous aches from your workout or injury due to inflexibility. I thought it might be a good idea to share with you how my clients would respond to the question: How does stretching make you feel?
Selina: “..wonderful, it allows me to go further in other fitness activities, it makes me feel like a brand new person.”
Adrienne: “…good, relaxed, better, it allows me to think better, it can make a positive impact on your mental and physical state.”
Danyele: “…long, less tense, less stressed, light, graceful.”
Helen: “….more flexible, wonderful, it puts everything where it’s supposed to be, [after stretching] it’s like having a new body. The next morning [after stretching], I feel wonderful. I can feel a release of energy. Because of stretching, I can now do the split at 50 years old. It’s a wonderful thing!”
I am quickly approaching 40 years alive and almost 20 years of teaching aerobics of some sort. I am convinced that maintaining a flexibility program throughout almost two decades of high intensity aerobics have kept me strong, energetic, and injury-free [knock on wood]. Additionally, stretching has had a positive affect on my developing long, lean muscles as opposed to short, bulky ones. Don’t wait another day. Just do it.
The Gigantic Benefits of Stretching
There are four primary components in a complete fitness program: cardiovascular conditioning, strength training, proper nutrition and flexibility training (stretching). All are equally important, but unfortunately are not practiced at equal levels. It seems as though stretching is the least understood and least employed area of fitness. Let’s face it, America is a high-paced society where little patience exists for anything anymore, let alone stretching. However, the benefits of investing the time and mental energy into flexibility training are gigantic. Flexibility is a joint’s ability to move through a full range of motion. Stretching helps to balance muscle groups that might be overused during exercise or as a result of bad posture. Start stretching today and enjoy the following benefits: Improved physical performance and decreased risk of injury; Reduced muscle soreness and improved posture; Improved muscular balance & coordination; Reduced risk of low back pain; Increased blood and nutrients to tissues; Relaxation of mind and body to bring a heightened sense of well-being and personal gratification during exercise. Stretch to the point of mild discomfort, not pain. However, to increase the range of motion, it is necessary to reach the existing limit regularly and exceed it. Check out a stretch, yoga, pilates or yogilates class at your local gym or community college. Buy a video tape, read a fitness magazine, look for routines on the internet, hire a trainer. Your options are plentiful. There are resources all around. Take advantage and be a balanced you. It brings much peace and harmony to life.
Stay in the Groove,
Melanie
Melanie A. Marchand is the Founder and President of Sisters in Shape Fitness Consulting. She acquired an MBA from Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1991, and has been a fitness instructor for over 15 years. Melanie holds certifications in Lifestyle and Weight Management Consulting, Personal Training, Step Reebok, Aerobics, Spinning and CPR. Melanie is a certified Personal Trainer. She received her certification from the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
