Cancer support group to honor 25 years

The Men to Men Prostate Cancer Support Group celebrates June 9 a 25th anniversary of guiding and providing assistance to men dealing with prostate cancer.

The oldest prostate support group in Lorain County meets at the Mercy Cancer Center providing guidance men and their families going through treatment.

Ray Noble, facilitator of Men to Men Prostate Cancer Support Group, said the organization consists of about 30 members along with involvement from doctors who meet regularly to discuss treatments and provide friendship and emotional support.

“That’s 25 years that we have administered to Men to Men and have helped with that dreaded disease called prostate cancer,” said Noble, who lives in Elyria. “They all give us information and tell us what we need to do to take care of ourselves.”

In 2017, Noble estimates 1,500 men in northeast Ohio died from prostate cancer and he stressed many men still hesitate to talk about it and come forward.

“Men will get prostate cancer, but for some reason, they stay hush, hush,” he said. “We sit around and talk about the issues.”

Noble encouraged men to get prostate examinations at age 40.

He’s also hoping to secure more funding for prostate cancer research.

The ceremony will take place from 10 a.m. to noon.