Cancer Treatment Centers of America and the Chicago Bears Team Up to Tackle Prostate Cancer

September 15 game to raise awareness for prostate cancer and remind fans to "Know Your Stats"

CHICAGO, Sept. 13, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Sunday, September 15, Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA) will take the field with the Chicago Bears to tackle prostate cancer. The hospital has teamed up with the National Football League (NFL) and the Urology Care Foundation to encourage men to get off the bench and be proactive about their health through the "Know Your Stats" campaign. The special game day will share prostate cancer education and offer fans an opportunity to take a pledge to understand their risk, know the signs and symptoms and help tackle prostate cancer. CTCA will contribute $1 per pledge to the Urology Care Foundation for the first 10,000 pledges made, supporting the more than 239,000 men who will be diagnosed with the disease this year and the thousands of men already battling the disease. 

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090612/CTCALOGO )

"Prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in men. The best defense against prostate cancer is education," said Kamal Patel, MD, Radiation Oncologist at CTCA at Midwestern Regional Medical Center (Midwestern). "Together with the Chicago Bears, we're encouraging fans to Take The Pledge to know their risk, talk to their doctor and join us as we team up to tackle prostate cancer."

Throughout the Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings game, information and statistics about prostate cancer will be featured on the scoreboard, at booths inside and outside of the stadium and on social media to prompt fans to take the pledge and tackle prostate cancer at http://www.cancercenter.com/prostate.

"Cancer has impacted my life," said Chicago Bears Linebacker James Anderson. "My father has talked to me about cancer. He's been tested and when my time comes I will be tested," he stated when discussing prostate cancer.

Tim Waninger, who was diagnosed with stage IV prostate cancer in 2008, is a five-year cancer survivor and patient at CTCA at Midwestern. Teaming up with CTCA at Midwestern Medical Oncologist, Dr. Evan Pisick, Waninger will present the ceremonial coin for the coin toss to kick-off the event. Waninger hails from Bears starting Quarterback, Jay Cutler's hometown of Santa Claus, Indiana and is proud to be involved.

"I'm thrilled to be a part of this event, but most importantly, I hope to share with men that regular checkups and talking with your doctor is crucial when talking about preventing and catching prostate cancer early," said Waninger.  "My son, who will be at the game with me on Sunday, went to high school with Jay. On top of sharing my prostate cancer journey, it will be exciting for both my son and I to see Jay play again."

The first 40,000 fans who enter Soldier Field will receive a classic 1963 Chicago Bears pennant courtesy of CTCA. The hospital will also have a booth at Soldier Field near Gate O with interactive information to help fans identify risk factors and share statistics about prostate cancer. For more information, please visit CancerCenter.com/prostate.

About Cancer Treatment Centers of America^®
Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Inc. (CTCA) is a national network of hospitals focusing on complex and advanced stage cancer.  CTCA offers a comprehensive, fully integrated approach to cancer treatment and serves patients from all 50 states at facilities located in Atlanta, Chicago, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Tulsa.  Known for delivering the Mother Standard^® of care and Patient Empowerment Medicine^®, CTCA provides patients with information about cancer and their treatment options so they can control their treatment decisions. CTCA at Midwestern Regional Medical Center (Midwestern) is nationally recognized for providing innovative and individualized cancer care and has been designated by the National Quality Measures for Breast Centers Program (NQMBC^®) as a Certified Quality Breast Center of Excellence™, ranking the hospital among the top centers in the country for quality breast cancer care. CTCA at Midwestern is the only Certified Breast Center of Excellence in Illinois.  As a member of the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) the hospital also offers a Stem Cell Transplant and Cell Therapy program that provides a full spectrum of transplantation services and advanced treatment options for hematologic cancers. CTCA at Midwestern is proud to use the latest technology to offer advanced treatment for cancer and is currently one of only a few hospitals in the nation to combine recent advances in brain mapping and navigation to perform minimally invasive brain surgery on hard to reach brain tumors.  CTCA enjoys an array of relationships with payers, networks, and employers. For more information about CTCA, go to www.cancercenter.com. 

SOURCE Cancer Treatment Centers of America