Released on: June 12, 2008, 9:24 am

Press Release Author: Prostate Cancer Education Council

Industry: Healthcare

Press Release Summary: Prostate Cancer Education Council encourages men's health
awareness this Father's Day

Press Release Body: DENVER - The best gift this Father's Day can't be found on store
shelves or through an online retailer-it's the gift of life. With approximately
64.3 million fathers in America, Father's Day provides a great opportunity to
educate the men in our lives about their greatest health risks. This Father's Day,
June 15, the Prostate Cancer Education Council (PCEC) encourages families to show
Dad how much they care by taking an active role in maintaining his health.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the top five
leading causes of death in American men are heart disease, cancer, accidental
injuries, stroke and chronic lower respiratory disease-most of which are either
preventable or treatable if caught early. This year, share the below tips with Dad
to help keep him happy, healthy, and celebrating many more Father's Days for years
to come, including:

1. Heart Disease: The number one cause of death in American men, Dad's risk can be
reduced by making healthier lifestyle choices and taking care of conditions that can
increase his risk of heart disease, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol
and diabetes. This year, encourage Dad to eat right, maintain a healthy weight,
give up smoking, and get regular check ups (blood pressure, cholesterol, etc.).

2. Cancer: Early detection is imperative to fighting this leading cause of death
among men. Screenings have been shown to be effective in finding cancer early,
particularly for prostate cancer. Impacting one in six American men, prostate
cancer currently affects more than two million American men. Often treatable if
detected early, there are frequently no signs or symptoms of the disease at its
earliest stages, making screening essential to saving lives. If Dad is 45 years or
older, or 40 years of age with high risk factors, the Prostate Cancer Education
Council advises that Dad keep screening on his yearly to-do list.

3. Accidental Injuries: Motor vehicle, poisoning, falls and drowning accidents are
among those most common causes of fatal unintentional injury to men. While
accidents can happen any time, any where we can encourage Dad to take safety
measures whether driving, at home or in the workplace.

4. Stroke: While nearly three-quarters of all strokes occur in people over the age
of 65, they can-and do -occur at ANY age. While you can't control some stroke risk
factors, such as family history, age and race, you can encourage Dad to control the
leading cause-high blood pressure-as well as other contributing factors such as
smoking and diabetes.

5. Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease: Chronic lower respiratory disease refers to
chronic (ongoing) diseases that affect the lower respiratory tract (including the
lungs). One of the most serious and prevalent forms is chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. The main
cause of COPD is smoking and men who smoke are 12 times as likely to die of COPD
compared to men who've never smoked. This year, help Dad quite smoking, avoid
second hand smoke and minimize exposure to workplace chemicals to reduce his risk
for COPD.

"There is still much to be done in terms of educating the public about the risks men
face for prostate cancer and other fatal diseases, especially when it comes to the
role of screening and early detection" said Wendy Poage, Executive Director,
Prostate Cancer Education Council. "For prostate cancer, new screening methods are
making it easier than ever for men to catch their conditions while the disease is
still manageable."

One such example is a new molecular biomarker for PCA3, which offers additional
information to aid in the diagnosis of prostate cancer through a urine test "The
PCEC is currently evaluating its role in early detection, watching how it performs
with and without PSA and other tests," said Dr. David Crawford, Chair, Prostate
Cancer Education Council.

Gen-Probe Incorporated is a national sponsor of the PCEC's Father's Day Awareness
Campaign and sells PCA3 ASRs (Analyte Specific Reagents) to several highly
specialized laboratories across the U.S. (i.e., labs which are CLIA certified for
high complexity clinical testing). Currently, there are several labs that offer
urine tests to identify the PCA3 gene, including: Bostwick Laboratories, Dianon
Systems/LabCorp, OUR Labs, CARIS/MPI and Mosaic Diagnostics.

# # #

About Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer, other than skin cancers, in American men.
Estimates for 2008 indicate that more than 186,000 men will be diagnosed in the
United States, and nearly 28,700 will die from the disease. African American men are
twice as likely to get prostate cancer and twice as likely to die from the disease.
The second leading cause of cancer death in American men, behind only lung cancer,
prostate cancer is often treatable if detected early.

About the Prostate Cancer Education Council
A national organization committed to men's health, the Prostate Cancer Education
Council (PCEC) is dedicated to saving lives through awareness and the education of
men, the women in their lives, as well as the medical community about prostate
cancer prevalence, the importance of early detection, and available treatment
options, as well as other men's health issues. The Council-comprised of a consortium
of leading physicians, health educators, scientists and prostate cancer
advocates-aims to conduct nation wide screenings for men and perform research that
will aid in the detection and treatment of prostate cancer. More information is
available at www.prostateconditions.org.

Web Site: http://www.prostateconditions.org

Contact Details: Deborah J. Danuser, (202) 742-5256, deborah@jonespa.com