The Prostate Net

Sadly today I lost a great friend and the nation a great warrior in the fight against prostate cancer.

Wes Sholes, a colleague for many years in the DoD Prostate Cancer Research Program, transitioned to the next world in the company of family and friends at home in Los Angeles.

Apart from his work in several fields of healthcare, he looked to the future in helping to create a path for young people through the BridgeBuilders Foundation that was his last and passionate mission.

Wes was the Yin to my Yang, a superb listener and mentor, the perfect pal for dinner and a bottle of wine, but above all the embodiment of a gentleman and friend.

He will be missed in this moment, but we believe that at some moment in the future we will connect again. I can only hope it will be somewhere there's good wine!

Rest in peace, my friend! Anima!

A recent meeting of the European Cancer Organization's Inequalities Network highlighted another group impacted by health disparities, those with serious mental illness (SMI), which is related to preventable and treatable chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Key points noted in the presentation:

- People with SMI are diagnosed with cancer at later stages and receive less treatment after adjusting for stage

- Individuals with SMI experience a reduction in life expectancy of two to three decades

Given that mental health discussions within families, social groups, communities, and workplaces along with proper intervention and care is not optimal or non-existent, we must begin to advocate for proper public policy to address this situation that is seemingly becoming increasingly worse in our societies.

You can view the meeting and download the slides from it at:

europeancancerorganisation.sharepoint.com