Dendreon Pharmaceuticals, a leader in the fight against prostate cancer, has announced a new partnership with Grant Hill.

In a press release announcement, it was revealed that the immunotherapy company and the seven-time NBA All-Star and sports broadcaster have teamed up to launch Start Strong, a new initiative to help individuals make decisions with health in mind. Start Strong aims to empower the prostate cancer community to learn about the racial disparities within prostate cancer incidence in the United States and encourage patients to talk to their physicians about the best treatments for them.

Statistically, one in seven Black men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. What’s more, Black men tend to be diagnosed at a younger age and with a more severe prognosis compared to other men. And for this reason, Dendreon enlisted the aid of Grant Hill to help spread the word.

“Prostate cancer is a risk for all men, but it disproportionately impacts Black men. In fact, Black men are twice as likely to be diagnosed with and two and a half times more likely to die from prostate cancer than Caucasian men,” said Grant Hill, in a statement provided in the press release. “When I learned about this disparity, I felt compelled to help educate Black men about the burden of prostate cancer and the potential treatments that can help them manage it. During the upcoming holiday season, many of us will be safely reconnecting with family, and I encourage you to take time to speak with your loved ones about their health. Every second counts when it comes to your health, so it’s crucial that men develop a treatment game plan with their doctor.”

Dendreon is the manufacturer of PROVENGE®, a cellular immunotherapy medicine used to treat some forms of prostate cancer.

Grant Hill

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