GILBERT, Ariz. (Aug. 3, 2023) - Bin McLaurin takes a deep breath as he sets up his computer at Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center to show a presentation that means so much to him. It’s the first time McLaurin will introduce his Men’s Breakfast Club, a monthly meeting where men can get together and talk about cancer and how it’s impacted their lives.
“I want to be able to share my story and help provide support for men who may be too afraid to share their feelings about their cancer diagnosis,” said McLaurin.
McLaurin is not only the organizer of this club, but also knows firsthand how cancer can impact someone’s life. About a decade ago, McLaurin was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He says it caught him off guard, as he was younger than many affected men – only 46 years old – had no family history of the disease and was in relatively good shape.
So, what happened? Well according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 13 out of every 100 American men will get prostate cancer. Age is one of the biggest risk factors.
Family history is another risk factor. If your father or brother had prostate cancer, you are at increased risk, as well. But McLaurin didn’t really fall into any of those categories. He was young and had no family history.
But McLaurin is African American, making him more likely to get prostate cancer, according to the CDC. African Americans are more than twice as likely to die from the disease and are more susceptible to getting prostate cancer at a younger age.
McLaurin was treated with radiation, hormone therapy and surgery. Now in remission, he’s a cancer survivor and men’s health advocate. He started the Men’s Breakfast Club to help others dealing with the disease. When he moved to Arizona from Los Angeles last year, one of the first things he sought was a support network.
McLaurin’s support group invites all men to come and enjoy breakfast while listening to guest speakers share important health tips and resources to help men cope with a cancer diagnosis. The group also offers increase feeling of empowerment and resilience, which are important during a harrowing and emotion time.
“When I first moved down here, I really wanted to find a support group that I could go to, and so I started looking,” said McLaurin. “But I really wasn’t able to find anything, so I decided to start my own support group so I could help other men just like me.”
The Men’s Breakfast Club, meets every third Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to noon at Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center, in the Coyote and Granite conference rooms, at 2946 E. Banner Gateway Dr. To enroll in the club, call 1-800-230-2273 or go online to: Calendar (www.bannerhealth.com) and search for “Men’s Breakfast Club.”
Banner Health is one of the largest, secular nonprofit health care systems in the country. In addition to 30 acute-care hospitals, Banner also operates an academic medicine division, Banner – University Medicine, and Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center, a partnership with one of the world’s leading cancer programs, MD Anderson Cancer Center. Banner’s array of services includes a health insurance division, employed physician groups, outpatient surgery centers, urgent care locations, home care and hospice services, retail pharmacies, stand-alone imaging centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation, behavioral health services, a research division and a nursing registry. To make health care easier, 100% of Banner-employed doctors are available for virtual visits and patients may also reserve spots at Banner Urgent Care locations and can book appointments online with many Banner-employed doctors. Headquartered in Arizona, Banner Health also has locations in California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada and Wyoming. For more information, visit bannerhealth.com.
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