Former Seattle Seahawks fullback Mack Strong hosted an event at EvergreenHealth Sept. 16 to raise awareness about prostate cancer that also helped highlight exclusive new technology introduced at the hospital for improving cancer treatment. The event allowed participants to test their Seahawks trivia knowledge, get signed autographs and photos with Strong, who played for the Seahawks 14 seasons. Strong has been hosting the event for six years and said he first got involved out of a desire to encourage more men in his age group, particularly African American men, to take proactive steps in dealing with prostate cancer and live their lives with peace of mind.

“It became one of those things I needed to do,” he said. “It’s something we need to stress a lot more, when you’re approaching that age you need to get checked. “

Around 230,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year. African American men have the highest incidence rate of prostate cancer and 60 percent more are likely to develop it compared to Caucasian men. However, 95 percent of men get prostate cancer at some point, according to Rose Guerrero, director of cancer services at The Halvorson Cancer Center at EvergreenHealth. Although the exact cause is not known for certain, the survival rate is relatively high. The main problem, Guerrero said, is convincing reluctant men be screened earlier, starting in their 40s and 50s.

As part of their prostate cancer treatment, EvergreenHealth has introduced new technology not found elsewhere in the state. Approved by the Food and Drug Administration in April, the technology reduces the side effects of prostate cancer treatment.

Richard Hsi, MD, a radiation oncologist at EvergeenHealth, participated in the clinical trials for the technology. Injecting a gel into the patient reduced radiation in the surrounding areas treated for cancer by 75 percent, with a 70 percent reduction in toxicity. For patients looking at treatment options, the gel injection makes radiation a more attractive choice than surgery; the gel is 90 percent water and goes away within six months, according to Hsi.

For doctors like Hsi, the gel could possibly allow them to give patients stronger radiation treatment.

“We’re basically taking a step in making the treatment successful without any residual effects,” he said.

According to EvergreenHealth, since the radiation treatment was first introduced in 2000, 98 percent of prostate cancer patients who opt for the treatment were found disease-free in follow-up prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests.

More information about the cancer center can be found at evergreenhealth.com/halvorson.