Upcoming Events:

Urology Centers of Alabama, Birmingham Bicycle Company and CBS Channel 42 are promoting prostate cancer awareness and the importance of early detection by sponsoring a cycling event, the Tour de Blue on Saturday April 26th, 2008. This ride leaves from Birmingham Bicycle Company (BBC) at 7:30am on Saturday and meanders its way through Jefferson, Shelby and St. Clair counties. The terrain is rolling with several challenging climbs. The route will take riders from the bike shop to the Logan Martin Dam and back. There will be 50, 75 and 100 mile options. All proceeds from the ride will go to the Urology Health Foundation a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization and your donation is tax deductible.  We hope to encourage men 45 years of age and older to have yearly examinations.  If men have a family history of prostate cancer or are African American they should start their screenings at age 40.  Prostate cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in men second to skin cancer.  One in 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime.  One in 4 African American men will be diagnosed.   It only takes 10 minutes to perform the proper examinations and it could save a man’s life.

The Urology Health Foundation was established as a charitable organization to receive funds to help in our effort to take screening for prostate cancer across the state.  Last year there were five screenings that were conducted from Madison County down to Wilcox County.  This year Urology Centers of Alabama will be adding additional sites to increase the number of screenings performed.  A donation to the Urology Health Foundation will help bring screenings to those who otherwise would not have it and ultimately, because of early detection, decrease the death rate from prostate cancer in our state.

Two years ago the National Prostate Cancer Coalition graded states on their failure to take care of prostate cancer.  Alabama and four other states were graded "F".    This was based on (1) no-state law requiring insurance companies to offer screening for prostate cancer, (2) the lack of universal screening for prostate cancer, and (3) high death rate from prostate cancer (Alabama's death rate from prostate cancer is the third highest in the nation).  Last year a state law was passed that requires insurance companies to offer prostate cancer screening if they do business in the State of Alabama.  That raised the state’s grade from "F" to "C". Taking screening for prostate cancer into rural areas and particularly among minority populations and those who are not insured is a daunting task.  It requires commitment and funding.  The goal of Urology Centers of Alabama is to raise our grade to an "A".  We believe that it is a matter of state pride that we should commit ourselves to fighting this cancer that is the most common cancer in American men and the second leading cause of cancer deaths.

Any donation to the Urology Health Foundation will help us achieve that goal. Follow this link: http://www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1542227 more information of the ride and to register for the Tour De Blue. Even if you can’t ride in the Tour de Blue you can still donate to this very worth while charity that directly serves people in your community by following this link: http://www.active.com/donate/tourdeblue.