A Letter from Steven Cash Nickerson—Founder of the David H. Nickerson Prostate Cancer Foundation
My father was an early casualty of prostate cancer, a disease that afflicts one out of six men in their lifetime. He was diagnosed far too late to be cured of the disease. And yet, the disease is treatable and curable if it is caught early. Unfortunately for my father and our family, back in the early 1990’s there was not significant awareness of the disease, PSA tests were not common, men did not discuss it and people died from it. Some progress has been made since then, but we have a long way to go.
Cash chipping out of the rough at the Zurich Charity Classic - Renaissance Club, Scotland.
There was a time when we didn’t feel comfortable talking about any cancer. I grew up watching anti-smoking campaigns on TV and it appears that effort has substantially reduced smoking and lung cancer. And now I have watched with impressive interest as breast cancer awareness and screening has become commonplace and I credit organizations like Susan G. Komen for raising awareness and increasing screening among women.
We men are behind if you compare prostate cancer and breast cancer awareness and screening. The purpose of this foundation is to increase awareness, increase screening and donate money to those that are working to find a cure for prostate cancer. While I can’t bring my father back, maybe we can save the lives of other fathers. Thanks for your interest in our initiative.
The David H. Nickerson Story
On May 1st 1996, David Nickerson lost a 4 year war with prostate cancer. He had overcome many significant challenges in his life. But he would be uncomfortable to hear any of that celebrated. You see for him it was never about Dave, it was always about others.
David H. Nickerson
Even as he lay on his deathbed, crippled by this terrible disease and the havoc it wrought, as visitors came he asked them all the same question: "What can I do for YOU?" ...more
Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer found in American men, other than skin cancer and it is the second leading cause of cancer death in men. Lung cancer is the first. One man in 6 will get prostate cancer during his lifetime, and 1 man in 35 will die of this disease. The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be about 186,320 new cases of prostate cancer in the United States in 2008. About 28,660 men will die of this disease this year. While we do not yet know exactly what causes prostate cancer, we do know that certain risk factors are linked to the disease.
Risk Factors:
Age
Family History
Diet
Race
Nationality ...more