HRPCA

Howard H. Hansen of Essex Junction, Vt., was honored with a national prostate cancer award on September 11, 2010. At its conference in Los Angeles, the Prostate Cancer Research Institute (PCRI) bestowed on Hansen its top award -- the Harry Pinchot Award. It recognizes unsung heroes in the prostate cancer community who are making a difference in the lives of other patients and their families.

Hansen has battled prostate cancer since 1993 and he cofounded the Hormone Refractory Prostate Cancer Association (HRPCA), an independent nonprofit, more than 10 years ago. The association operates through the HRPCA.org Web site and through an email-based support group. Hansen and other volunteers provide information that helps patients manage their disease thereby maintaining their quality of life. The group of cancer patients also shares the latest medical literature on the newest treatment opportunities and strategies to aid them in discussions with their oncologists.

In a nomination letter by Tennessee resident Judy Thurman, Thurman said, “When my husband was diagnosed in 2000 with advanced, very aggressive, prostate cancer while only 52 years old, we didn't know where to turn. … It was then that I found Howard Hansen and his co-founders of the Hormone Refractory Prostate Cancer group. A huge weight was lifted off my shoulders because at last I knew people who understood our plight and fears. I was no longer alone.”

A diagnosis of HRPC is a serious development for the family fighting prostate cancer. It often comes accompanied by an uncertain prognosis that adds an emotional burden. HRPCA defines HRPC as advanced prostate cancer that has resulted in three consecutive PSA rises while the individual is on hormone therapy. It marks the beginning of a time when there are multiple treatment options but no know cure for the patient.

Hansen and all of the volunteers working on the HRPCA Web site have been through this experience. Without exception, they have chosen to reject defeat and to fight this disease with their time, their ingenuity, their resources, and their computers. What they have learned by sharing experiences and research efforts is that there are many choices open to men with HRPC -- choices that can extend survival and maintain quality of life. Hansen and the association believe in building teams with doctors who respect the fact that patients are their partners in developing treatment plans. They respect those doctors for their expert input and compassionate care. They believe that the best way to use the information gained through the HRPCA network is to share it with doctors to arrive at the best decisions.

In her nomination letter, Thurman said, “Howard created the web site dedicated to HRPC because there was no other resource focusing on what to do when everything else is failing. Men with HRPC have unique and specific needs associated with dealing with everyday life and Howard continues to add papers to try to answer those needs. … He clearly shares his experiences and knowledge and gently guides the group members in their efforts to partner with their physicians. I doubt that there is another man battling against HRPC who has dedicated his life to helping the common man and his family survive as long as possible as has Howard Hansen.”