Founding Chairman’s Message
Founding Chairman’s Message
FOUNDING CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE
Our Founding President: Marvyn Kussner
PROCURE traces its origins to the vision of one man, Marvyn Kussner, who not only battled his own prostate cancer but also wanted to establish an organization to inform and support those affected by this disease. Twenty years later, we continue our efforts to advance research in this field and to develop new tools to inform patients and their families.
I knew nothing about prostate cancer until I received the results from a regular check-up by my family physician. A PSA of 12 and a Gleason Test of 10 put me into a state of shock. The seriousness of the situation warranted my taking immediate action to fully access the best medical treatment for my survival. With proper research, I made it my business to find the best local medical team and I followed through on a secondary source by visiting the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and the Johns Hopkins Center. From that point on, my strategy was well defined and I am now in a state of remission or better.
What I learned from my experience is the urgent need in Québec for better information and coordinated resources for men diagnosed with prostate cancer. Awareness, education and information are critical to help combat this distressingly common disease. Statistics indicate that of all cancers, the incidence of prostate cancer is expected to increase the most in the next decade. Given this reality, I personally felt an overwhelming need to do something important and was encouraged and challenged to take positive action by the Department of Urology at the McGill University teaching hospitals.
The McGill Prostate Cancer Fund was established, and quickly recruited to its board a group of concerned and dedicated leaders in our community. After funding a researcher for prostate cancer at the Montreal General Hospital, the Board of Directors determined a need to expand our efforts beyond any one hospital or medical faculty. The board moved effectively and with determination to create PROCURE – a not-for-profit organisation to spearhead the effort to push for excellence in education, treatment and research for prostate cancer in the Province of Québec. Our Alliance now includes representatives from all four of Québec’s medical faculties, namely, the CHUM (Centre hospitalier universitaire de Montréal), MUHC (McGill University Health Centre), CHUS (Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke), and CHUQ (Centre hospitalier universitaire de Québec).
PROCURE will successfully undertake many challenges. Our mission is to help prevent and cure prostate cancer by educating the public and by combining top-quality scientific research with compassion and humanity. Specifically, we will establish a web site, information centers, and create a biobank in cooperation with researchers from all of the previously mentioned medical faculties in the province.
I am personally very grateful for the wonderful support from my board members, the leadership and determination of the committee members and the important contributions of our medical experts.
It is my firm conviction that PROCURE, with the support of our donors, will make a profound difference to the many men and their family members who have to face the ordeal of prostate cancer.
Marvyn Kussner*
*Deceased in June 2013
Other pages that might interest you
Additional Information - Prostate cancer
Is prostate cancer hereditary?
Understanding the hereditary and genetic aspects of this disease can provide valuable information to both individuals affected and their families.
Symptoms, risk and screening
Are you over 50 or experiencing urinary problems? Discover why early screening for prostate diseases is important.
Genetics and prostate cancer
Do you have a family history of cancer? Your doctor might recommend genetic screening.
Genetic predisposition to prostate cancer
Although rare, some hereditary genetic mutations can increase your risk of prostate cancer.
From prostate to screening
Learn about the role of your prostate, related diseases, symptoms to watch out for and risk factors.
Vitamin D deficiency may be linked to aggressive prostate cancer
The Benefits of Vitamin D A great amount of research present the multiple benefits of Vitamin D. For example, Vitamin D regulates the amount of calcium and phosphorus, helps build bones and brings many more benefits to other tissues in the body, including kidneys, intestines and parathyroid glands. In fact, past reasearch found a link […]
Are you at risk? What causes prostate cancer?
The exact causes of prostate cancer are not yet well understood. Researchers have found some risk factors and are trying to determine how these factors lead to prostate cancer.
Fat may fuel prostate cancer growth
Being overweight or obese may increase a man’s risk of aggressive prostate cancer, researchers believe after doing animal and human cell studies.
Sources and references
Last medical and editorial review: April 2024. See our web page validation committee and our collaborators by clicking here.
