Women Against Prostate Cancer (WAPC) is a national organization working to unite the voices and provide support for the millions of women affected by prostate cancer and their families. WAPC advocates prostate cancer education, public awareness,screenings, legislation, and treatment options.

The first part of WAPC’s mission is to unite and support women who are currently or may be affected by prostate cancer in their own families. WAPC provides women with information on where to find the resources they need whether they be clinical, informational, financial, or spiritual. The second half of WAPC’s mission is to utilize the passion and enthusiasm of the women in the group to advocate for greater education and public awareness on prostate cancer, promote legislation that supports prostate cancer funding, education, and research, and to bring more awareness to the screening guidelines and treatment options for this deadly disease.

The group was founded by the combined efforts of Men’s Health Network and The Dean and Betty Gallo Prostate Cancer Center. Betty Gallo decided to Take Action following the death of her husband, Congressman Dean Gallo. She got busy and created The Dean and Betty Gallo Prostate Cancer Center, named for Congressman Dean A. Gallo, a respected and beloved man who served the people of New Jersey at the local, state, and federal levels, and who lost his life to prostate cancer in 1994 at the age of 58. Congressman Gallo’s wife, Betty, worked to establish the Center so that other men, and the families who love them, can live longer, healthier lives. “My goal is to help prevent others from suffering the way Dean did, by advocating the importance of early detection, awareness, and education,” Betty declares.

Men’s Health Network (MHN) is a non-profit educational organization comprised of physicians, researchers, public health workers, and individuals. MHN is committed to improving the health and wellness of men, boys, and their families. With an international network of chapters, affiliates, and health partners MHN hopes to achieve the following goals:

• To save men’s lives by reducing the premature mortality of men and boys.
• To increase the physical and mental health of men so that they can live fuller and happier lives.
• To significantly reduce the cycles of violence and addiction that afflict so many men.
• Energize government involvement in men’s health activities so that existing government health networks can be utilized to increase the health and well being of men and boys.
• Encourage women to expand on their traditional role as the family’s health care leader and activist for enhancement of health care services.

MHN approaches men’s health from a family perspective and with that in mind felt it imperative to create Women Against Prostate Cancer with the Gallo Prostate Cancer Center. Through programs such as this MHN hopes to continue to improve the health of men and their families.