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(ARA) - Champion bull riders Owen Washburn and Lee Akin know their fans are watching, but this year they hope they’re listening as well. Washburn and Akin are reaching out to more than 100 million men and their families in 2005 with a simple message: know your options for prostate cancer treatment. Prostate cancer affects one in six men and is responsible for an estimated 30,000 deaths each year. Washburn and Akin recently became spokespersons for Theragenics Corporation of Buford, Ga., a leading manufacturer of implantable radiation devices used to treat localized prostate cancer. The bull riders are helping men nationwide become aware of the importance of early screening for prostate cancer and proven treatment options, such as the Company’s TheraSeed device. TheraSeed has been used to treat more than 100,000 men with prostate cancer, including former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani.
Washburn and Akin are sharing information regarding prostate cancer treatment in cities throughout the U.S. in conjunction with the Professional Bull Riders’ (PBR) 2005 Built Ford Tough Series tour.
“Many men across the nation, especially in rural areas, do not have access to resources or are unaware of proven treatment options beyond surgery,” said M. Christine Jacobs, CEO and President of Theragenics. “With more than 100 million viewers annually and over one million live event attendees, professional bull riding provides a unique platform to reach a large segment of the American public. We are seizing this opportunity to reach an audience that needs to hear our message and become empowered to take control of their healthcare.”
Traditional prostate surgery is followed by a minimum eight-week recovery period and requires hospitalization. Treatment using the TheraSeed device, on the other hand, is done on an outpatient basis and takes about 45 minutes. Men are usually able to resume routine functioning in about three days. The cure rate for men treated with the TheraSeed device is equal to or better than that of traditional prostate surgery, and the risk of incontinence and impotence typically is lower.
Many of the men Washburn and Akin are working to reach can benefit greatly from TheraSeed. These men, who cannot afford to be out of work for weeks to months, can return to work in approximately 72 hours following the procedure and be back on their horses in about two weeks.
Professional Bull Riders Speak Out
Owen Washburn joined the professional bull riding circuit in 1993 and quickly established his reputation for consistency, reaching the ultimate goal of professional bull riders when he captured the 1996 PBR World Championship title.
“It’s important for men to know about their options,” Washburn said. “Men like me can’t afford not to work for weeks or months at a time. I want to let them know about proven treatment options, like TheraSeed, that will get them back to their daily routine as soon as possible.”
Lee Akin, the top-ranked African-American bull rider on the PBR circuit, has been a professional bull rider for more than seven years. As a multiple qualifier in the PBR World Finals, he has won nearly 20 championship titles throughout his career including three PBR titles in 2003 in 2004.
“Being part of this awareness campaign is especially important to me,” Akin said. “African-American men are at a higher risk of developing prostate cancer and it often strikes at an earlier age. I hope I can make a difference in someone’s quality of life through my work with TheraSeed.”
To learn more about proven prostate cancer treatment options, call (800) 458-4372 or visit www.theraseed.com.
Courtesy of ARA Content
