PHEN Partners with The International Health Commission of the AME Church
to Expand free Prostate Cancer Educational Resources and Support
September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
The International Health Commission of the AME Church, and the Prostate Health Education Network (PHEN) are partnering to expand free prostate cancer educational resources and support to AME churches. The partnership agreement was signed in July, 2023, by Bishop Francine Brookins, Chair of the Health Commission, Rev. Dr. Natalie Mitchem, RDN, Executive Director of the Health Commission, Rev. Miriam Burnett, MD, Medical Director of the Health Commission, and PHEN President Thomas Farrington, includes the introduction of a new online portal link.
Under the agreement, PHEN will provide materials to the churches for distribution to their members so they can access PHEN’s online educational resources for early detection screening (PHENPSA.com), treatment options (PHENPath.com) and clinical trials (PHENTrials.com). In addition, PHEN will host a special monthly online support session for church members.
“We have collaborated with PHEN over a number of years to raise prostate cancer awareness, and we are excited to expand the partnership with PHEN to provide educational resources to our churches to support our members, leadership, and communities in the fight against prostate cancer.” Our goal is to save lives by increasing vital knowledge about this deadly disease,” says Rev. Dr. Natalie Mitchem.
Prostate cancer is the leading cause of cancer for Black men and the second leading cause of cancer deaths. The American Cancer Society estimates that 288,000 men will be diagnosed and 34,000 will die from the disease in 2023. Black men are diagnosed with prostate cancer at a rate more than 70% higher and die at a rate 120% higher than all other men. This is the leading racial disparity for any type of major cancer for men or women.
“PHEN has worked with hundreds of churches through our church partnership program since our founding in 2003. However, this partnership with the AME Health Commission is unique, and provides the information and support of the AME Church body to enhance our efforts at a time when the prostate cancer crisis in Black communities across the country is accelerating,” says Thomas Farrington, PHEN founder and president.
September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, visit AMEChealth.org to access the new portal:
PHENChurch | Prostate Cancer Educational Resources & Support
About PHEN
The Prostate Health Education Network (PHEN) is the leading prostate cancer patient education and advocacy organization focused on the needs of Black men. The organization was founded by Thomas Farrington, a prostate cancer survivor in 2003 with a mission to eliminate the prostate cancer racial disparity and provide resources for the fight against prostate cancer to support the needs of all men.
