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Hall of Fame Quarterback Takes Hit From Prostate Cancer, Urges Men to be Proactive About Their Own Prostate Health

Posted on: Tuesday, 25 August 2009, 04:20 CDT

DALLAS, Aug. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Len Dawson took hard hits for 19 years as a Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs. But the shots from the league's best linebackers paled in comparison with a hit he took long after his football career was over.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090825/NY40957 )

In 1991, Dawson was diagnosed with prostate cancer. As an athlete who always paid attention to his health and was physically fit even after his retirement from the game, the diagnosis was a shock.

"The doctor was really cheerful until after the examination, then his demeanor changed abruptly," Dawson recalled. "He said, 'I found something there that I think you need to look into. You need to have a biopsy and ultrasonic images to check out what it is'."

For men, prostate cancer can be a silent threat they prefer not to talk about. It is the second leading cause of male cancer-related deaths in the United States, and in 2009, an estimated 192,000 men will be diagnosed with the disease.

"The good news is that the number of deaths can dramatically be reduced through prevention, early detection and appropriate treatment," said Dawson.

Despite his early objections, Dawson's wife, Linda, made an appointment for him to be screened for prostate cancer.

"I owe my life to Linda," Dawson said. "She encouraged me to go, and it was the best decision because that doctor's visit saved my life."

Some men aren't as lucky. Dawson's brother, Ronald, died from prostate cancer, and many of his family members, including Len, didn't know he had the disease because he didn't want to talk about it.

"Ronald was a paratrooper in World War II, and he was the type of individual that never really talked about the war, his health or anything to anyone," Dawson explained. "His symptoms had to show before he would take action and finally go to the doctor. The problem was that by that time, it was too late, and the cancer had spread throughout his body."

To help educate other men about the dangers of prostate cancer and the importance of seeing a doctor, Dawson has joined forces with Kimberly-Clark and several other sports legends in The Depend Campaign to End Prostate Cancer.

"For men managing incontinence due to prostate health issues, every time you buy Depend products for men, proceeds from that purchase will contribute to an overall donation of $250,000 to ZERO - The Project to End Prostate Cancer," Dawson said.

Dawson hopes that sharing his experience will inspire men to talk to other men about this serious issue and to be proactive about their own prostate health.

"My personal advice to men 40 years of age and older is to get tested every year, because if you stay on top of the situation, then you'll take care of the situation, and you won't die of prostate cancer. Go see a doctor, get tested."

You can read more from Len Dawson and get information about The Depend Campaign to End Prostate Cancer by visiting Depend.com.

Contact: Melissa Jacobs +1-704-548-8556

SOURCE Depend

Source: PR Newswire

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