Healthwatch

Balt. Colts Hall Of Famer Chairs Cancer Challenge

BALTIMORE (WJZ) ― People across the area will unite to fight prostate cancer Saturday night.

At the same time, they'll listen to the soulful sounds of music legend Patti LaBelle.

Kai Jackson reports one of the advocates in the fight against the disease is someone Marylanders know very well.

Hall of Fame running back Lenny Moore will always be known for his outstanding work on the field as a Baltimore Colt, but a personal battle with prostate cancer has led him to become the honorary chair of the Great Prostate Cancer Challenge.

Moore's stellar performance on the field has immortalized the former running back.

"I didn't feel particularly any difference," said Lenny Moore, Baltimore Colts Hall of Famer.

At 74, Lenny fondly remembers those days of yesteryear, but life often brings new and unexpected challenges as it goes on.

For Lenny, it was in 2001. He was 67 at the time and had an elevated PSA test.

Before he could absorb it all, he was in surgery having his prostate removed.

"They never knew until they got in there to take it out that it was cancerous and also that it had come out of the sack," said Lenny.

Dr. Siegel is an urologist at Chesapeake Urology Associates. They're getting ready for a Patti LaBelle concert to raise awareness and money  to fight prostate cancer.

Dr. Siegel says one in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. A disproportionate number of black men will be diagnosed with the disease.

That is why doctors say black men should be screened early, especially those with a family history.

"Well, as urologists we've always gone through the guidelines of the American Urological Association which always promoted screening at 40 for African-American men," said Dr. Siegel.

"Get yourself checked, get yourself screened, get everything that you could possibly get to know what's going on inside you because you don't know," said Lenny.

Lenny says he feels much better today, and stays on top of his health by getting screened twice a year.

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