New Orleans’ Natives Offer Inspiring Stories
(New Orleans, LA – June 19, 2007) As lifelong New Orleans resident Preston Edwards
Sr. continues to rebuild his business nearly two years after Hurricane Katrina, he isn’t
panicking. As far as he’s concerned, life is real good.
For the four years leading up to the devastating hurricane, he was battling cancer. Now,
he is a survivor – and proud of it. So much so that Edwards, publisher of the 36-year-old
Black Collegian Magazine, and three of his childhood friends, who were each battling
with a life-threatening form of cancer at the same time, are on a mission to make sure
every man over 40 goes to the doctor to get their annual check up.
“People have asked me,” said Edwards, 64, “Why would write a book with that title?
That’s just too scary.’ I give everybody the same answer. ‘You telling me it’s scary.
I’m here, alive and well, to tell you the story that I want everybody to hear.’ My friends
and I are using this experience to offer encouragement and inspiration to anybody having
cancer – and to provide advice and resources for them and their family to get through
what is a terribly challenging time of your life.”
The men – Edwards, Ronald P. Bazile Sr., Ellis M. Brossett, Sr. and Benjamin M.
Priestley – have even written the newly released book – ‘You Have Cancer’ (Domain
Developers LLC, 2007, 156 pp, $12). It chronicles the emotional journey from the time
they were first told they had cancer and through the arduous days of enduring
chemotherapy and now the joy in knowing they had all avoided a ‘death sentence’.
Edwards was diagnosed with cancer of an ‘unknown primary’; Bazile with prostate
cancer; and Priestley with lung cancer. In the midst of writing the book, Ellis M. Brossett
Jr. died fighting Mantle Cell Lymphoma.
Edwards, owner of IMDiversity Inc., wrote “You Have Cancer” with his friends to raise
awareness about this disease that is likely to touch more than 152,000 people this year,
according to the American Cancer Society. The book offers and extensive ‘Advice’
section where writer Don Spears offers a ‘Ten Step” plan on how to deal with loved ones
as well as tips on nutrition. Dr. Harold P. Freeman, medical director of the Ralph Lauren
Center for Cancer Care and Prevention in New York, explains that there are 3,700 new
cases of cancer diagnosed everyday and that most are preventable. Freeman encourages
people, particularly African-American men, to watch their diets, exercise and to stop
smoking.
Books are available to order online at www.YouHaveCancer.com. Edwards and his
friends also are available for interviews. Please contact Foote at 214.448.3765 or
neil@neilfoote.com.
