Joe and Ali Torre Team up to Help Couples Fighting Prostate Cancer

- New Program Supports Wives in Becoming Advocates for Their Husbands -

New York, September 18, 2000 - The physical effects of prostate cancer may strike only men, but research shows that the emotional impact of the disease can be even greater for their wives.¹ That doesn't stop wives from playing a key role in their husband's prostate cancer care - approximately one in four men say their treatment decision was made either solely by their wife/partner or equally with them, according to a national survey by Roper Starch Worldwide.

"I think I was numb when I got the diagnosis, so I don't know what I would have done without Ali," said New York Yankees manager Joe Torre. "She sought out information, asked questions and helped to guide us through the complicated process of reaching a treatment decision."

To help support spouses of prostate cancer patients, Torre, a prostate cancer survivor, and his wife Ali are helping to launch "Two Against One: Couples Battling Prostate Cancer." This multi-media program helps spouses become more informed about prostate cancer and empowers them to advocate for improved outcomes for their husbands. It was developed with the prostate cancer advocacy group US TOO! International, Inc., the American Foundation for Urologic Disease and an alliance of prominent medical urologists and oncologists. Biotechnology companies Amgen and PRAECIS PHARMACEUTICALS are sponsoring the program.

"It was a very difficult experience to go through," said Ali Torre. "But when I learned that Joe had prostate cancer, there was no question that I'd be there for him. Although prostate cancer was first and foremost about my husband's life, it would be the two of us who would fight this disease, both on our own and together as a couple."

Wives Critical in Fighting Disease

The Roper Starch survey also found that men aren't communicating as well as they should with their physicians. Twenty-two percent of prostate cancer patients do not feel they received a thorough explanation of test results and a quarter (25%) do not feel all their questions were answered when their doctor confirmed that they had prostate cancer. This communication gap makes the role of the spouse, who traditionally is the primary seeker of healthcare information and the healthcare decision-maker for the household, even more important.

In addition, unlike many diseases, prostate cancer often involves the spouse in very direct and intimate ways. Some treatment side effects, such as impotence or incontinence, can impact a man's sense of self-worth and control over his life, causing him to withdraw, and can affect his physical and emotional relationship with his spouse. So it is important for both the patient and his spouse to understand the treatment options in order to select the most appropriate therapy.

"Often, patients will underplay or not discuss their problems associated with the prostate cancer," said Dr. William K. Kelly, assistant attending, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. "Because of this, I often get the real story of what's going on from the wives of patients, rather than patients themselves."

The Roper Starch survey confirms wives of men age 50 and older say that their husbands would have difficulty talking with a doctor about matters involved in prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment, such as sensitive side effects. However, men in this age group are half as likely to say that they would have this difficulty.

"Ali and I are very lucky to have each other," Joe said. "One of the reasons we want to talk about the 'couple effect' of prostate cancer is to encourage men to work with their spouses in fighting this disease, not shut them out. After the diagnosis, there is a lot of information to absorb. I knew if I missed something, Ali would get it."

Wives Need Support Too

Given their critical role, wives of prostate cancer patients need resources specifically developed for them. The "Two Against One" program consists of a website,  that leads spouses through the trauma of diagnosis, treatment and beyond. It also features links to other useful resources. This information has been captured in a free printed booklet. Also available is a new educational video, "Not By Myself," featuring singers Billy Davis, Jr., and Marilyn McCoo, another famous couple who has successfully faced prostate cancer. The booklet and video are available at no cost by calling toll-free 877-550-9624. The "Two Against One" program will soon be expanded to support other caregivers of prostate cancer patients.

"This one-of-a-kind program helps fill a huge unmet need in prostate cancer care," said Hank Porterfield, Chairman and CEO, US TOO! International, Inc. "It recognizes that those who support their partners need support too."

Supporting patients through their wives is critical, as men also do not appear to take advantage of prostate cancer support groups. Nearly 40 percent of urologists say they encourage patients to attend support groups, but only 12 percent of patients say they attend, according to the survey.

"When I think how long it took me to get information and how confusing it all was, I wish that I could have turned to a central source for reliable information like the 'Two Against One' program," Ali said. "It really would have helped us, and that's why we're so glad to bring this program to other couples."

Prostate Cancer Not a Concern to Those At-Risk

Despite its prevalence, men age 50 and older and women who are married to men in this age group say the disease is not a prime concern, according to the survey. Less than one in five men named prostate cancer as the disease they worry about most and less than one in five women cited prostate cancer as a disease their husband should be concerned about.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer (excluding skin cancer) and the second leading cause of cancer death in men. More than 180,000 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in the United States this year and nearly 32,000 men will die of the disease.

Current treatments range from removal of the prostate (radical prostatectomy) to radiation to hormonal drugs that lower levels of testosterone, which acts as a "fuel" for tumor growth. Amgen and PRAECIS PHARMACEUTICALS are jointly developing a new and important class of therapy for prostate cancer.

Advisors to this program include: Hank Porterfield, chairman and CEO, US TOO! International, Inc.; Thomas Bruckman, executive director, American Foundation for Urologic Disease; Colonel David G. McLeod, MD, program director and director, urologic oncology, Walter Reed Army Medical Center; William R. Fair, MD, FACS, chairman, clinical advisory board, Haelth, LLC; William K. Kelly, DO, assistant attending, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and assistant professor, Cornell Medical School; Terry Mason, MD, chairman, urology section, National Medical Association and associate professor of surgery, University of Illinois School of Medicine; Neal Shore, MD, vice chief of medical staff, Grand Strand Regional Medical Center; Mark S. Soloway, MD, professor and chairman, department of urology, University of Miami School of Medicine; Joe Torre, manager, New York Yankees and prostate cancer survivor; John Trachtenberg, MD, FRCSC, FACS, Fleck Tanenbaum chair of prostatic disease and professor of surgery, University of Toronto and director, The Prostate Centre, Princess Margaret Hospital; and Nicholas Vogelzang, MD, Fred C. Buffett professor of medicine, director of Cancer Research Center, University of Chicago.

Amgen is a global biotechnology company that discovers, develops, manufactures and markets cost-effective human therapeutics based on advances in cellular and molecular biology.

PRAECIS PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED is a biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of pharmaceutical products using its proprietary LEAPÔ (Ligand Evolution to Active Pharmaceuticals) technology.

¹ Kornblith, AB, Herr, HW, et al. Cancer, 73(11), p 2791-2802.