NBA comes out to support cancer screening

Councilmember Leroy Comrie joined with NBA legends and current players to support the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Cure & Prevention’s Screening Campaign at the Harlem Men All-Star Evening, which was held on Monday, March 5 at the AMC Magic Johnson Harlem 9 Theater.
The event was the culmination of a campaign by the center to encourage over 500 men in Harlem to be screened for prostate and colon cancer. Each resident that completed the screenings was invited to the event to meet with the NBA players.
NBA Hall of Famer, best-selling author and Harlem resident Kareem Abdul-Jabbar served as the spokesperson for the campaign, and he was joined by NBA Hall of Famer and Knick legend Earl Monroe; former NBA champion, television analyst and Queens native Kenny Smith; current Knick player Channing Frye; and former Knick players Allan Houston and Herb Williams.
“I am proud to champion this effort along with my friends at the NBA,” said Abdul-Jabbar. “Because when cancer is detected early, there is a greater chance of survival. For me, this issue is personal, as cancer has stricken members of my own family. I want to urge my fellow Harlemites, as well as all New Yorkers to visit their doctors for annual screenings.”
According to the American Cancer Society, despite overall declines in cancer deaths, black Americans are more likely to die of cancer than whites. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in African American men and the death rate for the disease is twice as high as it is in whites. African Americans have higher rates for colorectal cancer and death rates than their white counterparts.
“We are thrilled that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the National Basketball Association - NBA Care program and AMC Theatres are partnering with us and share our commitment to save lives in Harlem,” said Dr. Harold Freeman, president, founder and medical director of the Ralph Lauren Center. “Through education and providing low-cost cancer screenings to the community, we can make a real impact.”
“I want to personally applaud the work that is being carried out by Dr. Freeman and the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care,” added Comrie. “Far too many people in our community carry their aches and pains with them without seeking medical care. I want to join with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the other players in urging New Yorkers to get cancer screenings. I am tested each year myself, so I am walking the path with you as well.
The Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care & Prevention, with the support of the National Basketball Association’s NBA Cares Program and AMC Theaters, launched the campaign last September, with the goal of screening 500 to 1000 men. The goal of the campaign is to encourage men to learn more about cancer prevention and get screened at the state-of-the-art facility. The tests are low cost, and for a limited time, patients who don’t have insurance may qualify for free screenings.
NBA Cares is the league’s social responsibility initiative that builds on the NBA’s long tradition of addressing important social issues in the United States and around the world. During the first year of NBA Cares, teams, current and former players, and the league office contributed 250,000 hours of hands-on service to the community, raised more than $40 million for charity and created 146 places where kids and families can live, learn or play.
The Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care & Prevention is an innovative partnership between Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and North General Hospital. The Harlem-based center provides cancer prevention education and screening for colon, prostate, cervical and breast cancer, in addition to outpatient treatment services. Within an environment that is warm, friendly and culturally sensitive, staff efforts are focused on removing barriers to getting the highest quality healthcare that is both timely and affordable.
For more information about the campaign, or to sign up for a prostate or colon cancer screening, call 212-987-1777 or log on at www.ralphlaurencenter.org.
The Ralph Lauren Center is located in Harlem at 1919 Madison Avenue, New York.