In 2010 there was an estimated 217,730 new cases of prostate cancer, and more than 30,000 deaths. Despite these numbers, many advances have been made in the search of treatments and care thanks to clinical trials. This month, the Prostate Health Education Network (PHEN) will feature ?Clinical Trials? as part of its webcast on Wednesday, July 13th at 6 pm ET.



Clinical trials, as defined by the US National Institute of Health, are ?biomedical or health-related research studies in human beings that follow a pre-defined protocol.? Participants in clinical trials not only play a major role in helping others by contributing to medical research, but also play an active role in their own health care.



PHEN?s webcast will feature Mark Kennedy, Health Program Manager for the Community Benefits/External Affairs Department at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, as a guest presenter. Joining him will be Jacques Carter, MD, PHEN Medical Advisor and associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. They will give an overview of how clinical trials work and how participants are protected. Clinical trials have a rich history, with many cases throughout the years becoming headliners. The presenters will share some of this history and will also share how people of color suffered through earlier clinical trials.



Since 2003, PHEN has hosted monthly meetings at Dana-Farber, located in Boston, MA. The meetings aim to educate local men and their families about important prostate cancer issues, help newly diagnosed men understand their treatment options, and help survivors face issues of survivorship. These meetings are currently webcast live allowing a nationwide audience to view and participate by emailing questions to the presenters and receiving responses during the program. Questions can be emailed to rapcancer@prostatehealthed.org . The webcasts are available on PHEN's website: www.RAPCancer.org



About PHEN:

PHEN's mission is to increase prostate health education and awareness among African American men. This includes efforts to increase the overall support and resources in the fight against prostate cancer that will eventually lead to a cure for the benefit of all men.



To watch the webcast on July 13th, visit our home page, and click the link on the right-hand side.



(Mark Kennedy and Jacques Carter, MD, pictured above.)