DON’T LET FEAR DELAY CANCER CARE “What are you fearful about?” For Hispanic Heritage Month, Blue Cure honors Ysabel Duron, cancer survivor, award-winning broadcast journalist and founder of The Latino Cancer Institute. In this fourth excerpt, Ysabel discusses miedo (fear), myths and misinformation surrounding cancer. She acknowledges those fears and encourages questions and hope. The worry may be about a test, a diagnosis, treatment, cost or how to tell your family. Those concerns deserve a conversation. Latino communities have different backgrounds and can have different health needs. Clear information in a person’s preferred language, with respect for their experiences, can help them understand care choices and take the next step. Treatment advances have improved outcomes for many cancers, though each person’s outlook depends on their diagnosis and circumstances. Screening checks for cancer before symptoms appear. It can reduce deaths from certain cancers, but the right tests and timing depend on age, personal and family history, and other risk factors. THREE WAYS TO ACT: • Name the fear. Write down what worries you and the questions you want answered. • Ask your healthcare team. Discuss which screenings are appropriate, including benefits and risks. If you have symptoms, ask about evaluation instead of waiting for routine screening. Ask for help with language, costs or transportation. • Support someone you love. Listen without judgment, offer practical help and encourage care without pressure or shame. Ysabel’s 43-year broadcast career earned her two Emmy Awards and a place in the National Association of Hispanic Journalists Hall of Fame. Her 1999 Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis helped launch decades of advocacy through Latinas Contra Cancer and later The Latino Cancer Institute. It was an honor to welcome Ysabel to Blue Cure. We’re grateful for her openness and longstanding service to patients and families. Learn more: latinocancerinstitute.org Blue Cure Men’s Health Podcast. Recorded Dec 2025. For education only, not medical advice.

URINARY LEAKAGE AFTER PROSTATE CANCER TREATMENT? WHAT CAN HELP? Urinary leakage can be one of the most frustrating challenges following prostate cancer treatment. But whether you’re preparing for treatment or still experiencing symptoms months or years later, there may be options worth discussing with your healthcare team. In this excerpt from the Blue Cure Men’s Health Podcast, Sarah Norris, ARNP, a nurse practitioner at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, explains how rehabilitation and individualized care can help men manage urinary symptoms and improve quality of life. What should men know? 1. Rehabilitation can begin before surgery. Sarah describes how her team introduces pelvic floor physical therapy and Kegel exercises before prostatectomy, with follow-up therapy after surgery. Pelvic floor muscle training can support recovery of urinary control. 2. Not all urinary symptoms are the same. Both prostate surgery and radiation can affect urinary function, but the types of symptoms and appropriate treatments may differ. Understanding the cause is important. 3. Treatment options exist. Depending on the type and severity of symptoms, options may include pelvic floor physical therapy, medications for certain bladder symptoms, or procedures such as an artificial urinary sphincter for selected men with persistent stress incontinence. 4. It’s not too late to ask for help. Even if you didn’t receive pelvic floor therapy before or after treatment, ongoing symptoms deserve attention. Sarah’s message is straightforward: “If you are truly bothered by it, please speak up.” If urinary leakage is affecting your daily activities, confidence, or quality of life, talk with your urologist about an evaluation and whether pelvic floor physical therapy or other treatments may be appropriate. And if someone you love is navigating prostate cancer recovery, consider sharing this information. Sometimes knowing that options exist is the first step toward seeking help. This content is for education only and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Treatment options and outcomes vary. Consult your healthcare professional.

COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE SHAPES CANCER ADVOCACY For Hispanic Heritage Month, Blue Cure honors Ysabel Duron, cancer survivor, award-winning journalist and founder of The Latino Cancer Institute. In this third clip from our conversation, Ysabel explains how working with families taught her about the fears, barriers and challenges surrounding cancer. Her journalism instinct carried into advocacy: identify problems and find people working to solve them. Your experiences can reveal needs that otherwise go unheard. Hearing from people across ethnic, cultural and language backgrounds can help researchers ask relevant questions and understand barriers to clinical trial participation. Including participants from different backgrounds in studies also helps make findings relevant to more patients. Her message also reaches beyond the clinic: the conditions in which people live and work can influence cancer risk and access to care. WAYS TO PUT THIS INTO ACTION: • Patients: Tell your care team what makes care difficult. Ask about a patient navigator or social worker who can help identify resources. • Families: Ask, “What would make your next appointment easier?” Offer specific help, such as a ride or taking notes. • Community members: Ask local cancer organizations how you can volunteer or support their work. Blue Cure shares these experiences to help patients speak up and find support. Ysabel’s 43-year broadcast career earned her two Emmy Awards and a place in the National Association of Hispanic Journalists Hall of Fame. Her 1999 cancer diagnosis helped launch decades of advocacy. Through Latinas Contra Cancer and later The Latino Cancer Institute, she has connected community needs with education, research and policy. It was an honor to welcome Ysabel to Blue Cure. We’re grateful for her generosity in sharing her experience and her longstanding service to patients and families. Learn more: latinocancerinstitute.org Blue Cure Men’s Health Podcast. Recorded December 2025. For education only, not medical advice. Talk with your healthcare team about your care and support needs.

NORMALIZING SEXUAL RECOVERY AFTER PROSTATE CANCER TREATMENT Erectile dysfunction and changes in sexual function can be difficult for men to discuss, especially after prostate cancer treatment. But embarrassment should never stand in the way of getting help. Some men experience erectile difficulties even before their cancer diagnosis or treatment, yet have never discussed those concerns with a healthcare professional. For others, surgery or radiation can introduce new challenges that affect sexual function, confidence, and intimacy. The important message: Treatment options exist, and these conversations are worth having. In this excerpt from the Blue Cure Men’s Health Podcast, Sarah Norris, ARNP, a nurse practitioner at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, discusses how she helps men navigate sexual health concerns during prostate cancer survivorship. From medications to nonpharmaceutical options such as vacuum erection devices, Sarah explains how introducing patients to available tools can open conversations they may have avoided for years. She also shares a little humor from the exam room: “I know this seems weird, but trust me, it gets weirder.” Behind that humor is an important message: Sexual health is part of overall health. Discussing erections, rehabilitation devices, and intimacy should be a normal part of prostate cancer care, not a source of shame. For men and their partners: If sexual changes are affecting your quality of life, ask your healthcare team what options may be appropriate for you. Recovery varies, but you do not have to navigate these concerns in silence. Watch, share, and follow Blue Cure for more conversations that help men take an active role in their health. Educational information only. Not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Discuss treatment and recovery options with your healthcare team.

WHO SHOULD BRING UP PROSTATE CANCER TREATMENT SIDE EFFECTS? Urinary leakage, erectile dysfunction, fatigue and changes in sexual health can affect a man’s quality of life after prostate cancer treatment. Yet these concerns aren’t always easy to discuss, especially when embarrassment or uncertainty gets in the way. So who should start the conversation? In this second clip from the Blue Cure Men’s Health Podcast, Sarah Norris, ARNP, explains why healthcare professionals have a responsibility to ask patients about treatment-related side effects, including concerns they may be reluctant to raise themselves. Sarah is a nurse practitioner at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She works directly with prostate cancer patients and their partners, helping them prepare for treatment, manage side effects and navigate recovery and survivorship. In her daily patient-facing role, she sees how important these conversations are to quality of life. But patients have an important role, too. If your healthcare team doesn’t ask about your symptoms or recovery, speak up. Don’t assume that because a concern hasn’t been discussed, nothing can be done. Ask questions: What can we do about urinary leakage? What options are available for erectile dysfunction? Could pelvic floor physical therapy or another specialist help? Treatment-related side effects deserve attention, and options for managing them may be available. Your health is more than a PSA number. Your quality of life matters, too. If you or someone you love is navigating prostate cancer treatment or recovery, share this conversation. Follow Blue Cure for more educational clips with Sarah and other healthcare professionals. Educational information only. Not a substitute for personalized medical advice.

WHY SOME MEN PULL AWAY AFTER PROSTATE CANCER TREATMENT Prostate cancer treatment can affect more than physical health. It can also change how men and their partners experience intimacy. When a man experiences erectile difficulties after treatment, he may begin avoiding physical affection, even something as simple as cuddling, because he worries it could lead to expectations for sex that he doesn’t feel able to meet. That distance doesn’t necessarily mean a loss of love, attraction or desire for closeness. In this first clip from the Blue Cure Men’s Health Podcast, Sarah Norris, ARNP, explains why some men withdraw from physical affection and reminds couples that intimacy and physical connection can take different forms. Sarah is a nurse practitioner at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She works directly with prostate cancer patients and their partners, helping them navigate treatment-related side effects, sexual health, intimacy and quality-of-life concerns. This is the first in a series of clips with Sarah exploring urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction, sexual health and the importance of speaking openly about these often-sensitive topics. If treatment has affected your sexual health or relationship, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Talk with your healthcare team about available options and support. Partners, your understanding and encouragement matter, too. Share this with someone who may benefit, and follow Blue Cure for more conversations aimed at helping men and families take an active role in their health. Educational information only. Not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Discuss concerns and treatment options with your healthcare team. #ProstateCancer #Prostatectomy #Urology #SexualHealth #MensHealth

SUPPORT GOES BOTH WAYS. Women have been a major part of Blue Cure’s community from the beginning, helping raise prostate cancer awareness and supporting men and families facing a diagnosis. During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we’re asking men to return that care and support. This 2013 KHOU 11 story features breast cancer survivor and Blue Cure board member emerita Carolyn Farb, who understood that cancer affects the patient and the people who love them. Carolyn, thank you for championing Blue Cure in our early years, for your years of board service, and for helping raise awareness of prostate cancer and men’s health. Your leadership and service remain an important part of Blue Cure’s story. Thank you also to journalist and anchor Lily Jang, who reported this piece and was an early supporter of Blue Cure and our message, and to KHOU 11 Houston for helping us reach more families. Stories like this can give men and women the nudge to ask questions, discuss screening with their healthcare team and take an active role in their health. To Carolyn and all the women who raise awareness, share our message, ask questions and encourage the men in their lives to seek care: thank you. Women have strengthened Blue Cure as followers, volunteers, donors, leaders and advocates from the beginning. Your health deserves that same care and attention. Men, ask how you can help. Listen, support breast cancer education and advocacy, and offer practical help with appointments or other needs. Let’s be there for the women in our lives. To the women in our community: ask your healthcare team about your breast cancer risk and when to begin or continue screening, including mammograms. Screening schedules depend on age and personal risk. If you notice a new breast change, have it evaluated promptly. To those living with breast cancer, its survivors and the families who have lost someone: we stand with you. Archival footage: KHOU 11 Houston, 2013. For education only. Talk with your healthcare team about your individual care.

CANCER CARE TAKES MORE THAN TREATMENT For Hispanic Heritage Month, Blue Cure honors Ysabel Duron, cancer survivor and founder of The Latino Cancer Institute. In this second clip from our conversation, award-winning broadcast journalist Ysabel Duron shares why she turned the camera on her own chemotherapy and radiation. She wanted viewers to understand cancer. What she had not anticipated was the fatigue that made even getting out of bed a battle. Her son’s visits and his words, “Mom is back,” bring the experience home. She then explains how meeting social workers supporting Spanish-speaking Latinas with breast cancer helped launch her nonprofit advocacy. That work connects this story to Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Ysabel survived Hodgkin lymphoma; her advocacy has helped patients facing other cancers, including breast cancer. At Blue Cure, we share patient experiences to encourage questions, explain support resources and help families take an active role in care. THREE WAYS TO ACT: • Patients: Tell your care team when fatigue or other symptoms interfere with daily life. Ask what can help. • Families: Offer specific help, such as a meal, a ride or company at an appointment. • Patients & Caregivers: Ask your care team about patient navigators, social workers and professional interpreters. Navigators help patients overcome barriers to care. Ysabel’s 43-year broadcast career earned her two Emmy Awards and a place in the National Association of Hispanic Journalists Hall of Fame. After her 1999 diagnosis, she built a lasting career in patient advocacy. She founded Latinas Contra Cancer and later The Latino Cancer Institute, connecting communities, researchers and advocates. It was an honor to welcome Ysabel to Blue Cure. We’re grateful for her openness and decades of service to patients and families. Learn more: latinocancerinstitute.org Blue Cure Men’s Health Podcast. Recorded December 2025. For education only, not medical advice. Talk with your healthcare team about symptoms and support.

WHY LATINO VOICES MATTER IN CANCER CARE For Hispanic Heritage Month, Blue Cure is highlighting Ysabel Duron, founder of The Latino Cancer Institute, cancer survivor and award-winning journalist who has spent decades helping Latino families navigate cancer care. “We are not a monolith,” says Ysabel. Latino communities have different backgrounds, experiences and health needs. Grouping everyone together can hide important differences. In this first clip in our series, Ysabel explains three priorities: • UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCES. Family history, inherited genetic changes, environmental exposures and access to healthcare can all matter. A Latino identity alone does not determine someone’s cancer risk. • INCLUDE PEOPLE IN RESEARCH. Research needs participants from different backgrounds to better understand cancer and how treatments work. Patients can also help researchers address barriers such as language, transportation and time away from work. • IMPROVE ACCESS TO CARE. Clear information, help navigating healthcare and access to medications and clinical trials can help more patients benefit from medical advances. Ysabel’s 43-year broadcast journalism career earned her two Emmy Awards and a place in the National Association of Hispanic Journalists Hall of Fame. Her Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis in 1999 helped launch a second career in cancer advocacy. Through Latinas Contra Cancer, she helped build education, screening navigation and support for underserved, Spanish-speaking patients. She later founded The Latino Cancer Institute, connecting communities, researchers and advocates to improve cancer care. It was an honor to welcome Ysabel to Blue Cure. We’re grateful for her experience and commitment to patients and families. At Blue Cure, we believe every patient deserves understandable information and access to care that meets their needs. Learn more: latinocancerinstitute.org Blue Cure Men’s Health Podcast. Recorded December 2025. For education only, not medical advice. Talk with your healthcare team about your cancer risk and recommended screenings.

IT’S NOT NAGGING. IT’S LOVE. Sometimes looking out for someone starts with two questions: “When was your last checkup?” “Have you asked your doctor about a PSA test?” Wives, mothers, daughters, girlfriends and sisters often reach out to Blue Cure asking how to encourage a man they love to take his health seriously. Their support matters. A conversation can help him take that next step. Be the nudge he needs. Offer to help schedule an appointment, write down questions or go with him. Men, take ownership of your health. If someone brings it up because they care about you, use that opening to take action. Women are a major part of our Facebook community. Join the conversation at Facebook.com/BeatProstateCan…. Prostate Cancer Awareness Month ends today. Keep asking questions and looking out for one another all year. PSA stands for prostate-specific antigen, a protein measured through a blood test. A PSA result alone cannot diagnose prostate cancer, and an elevated result can have several causes. Talk with your doctor about when screening makes sense for you, considering your age, family history, other risk factors and overall health. Ask about the benefits and potential harms of testing. This excerpt is from Gabe Canales’ interview on Domingo Live, KIII-TV in Corpus Christi, Texas. Download the Blue Cure Men’s Health Checklist at BlueCure.org for yourself or a man you care about. Use it to prepare questions for the next appointment. Ask Questions is part of Blue Cure’s Know Your Numbers initiative, supported by H-E-B. Educational purposes only. This is not medical advice.

SEPTEMBER ENDS TODAY. THE WORK CONTINUES. Today is the final day of Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. The posts and blue ribbons may become less visible tomorrow, but the need for checkups, questions and follow-up does not end with September. If we carry anything forward from this month, let it be these three actions: ASK MORE QUESTIONS. You do not need to become a medical expert. You deserve to understand your risk, your test results, your options and what happens next. If something is unclear, ask again. KNOW YOUR NUMBERS. This is not only about PSA, and it does not mean treating one result as a diagnosis. For overall health, important measures may include blood pressure, LDL cholesterol and blood sugar. Depending on the person, a doctor may also recommend an A1c test, which reflects average blood sugar over the past few months. For prostate health, ask whether and when PSA testing is appropriate based on your age and individual risk. For some men being evaluated or monitored for prostate cancer, the conversation may also include changes in PSA over time, prostate volume and PSA density. These numbers need context and may be considered with other information, including individual risk factors, imaging and biopsy findings. Know which numbers matter for you. Ask what they mean and how they are changing. BE THE NUDGE. Ask a father, husband, brother, son, partner or friend: “When was your last checkup?” “Have you asked your doctor about a PSA test?” A simple question from someone who cares can start an important health conversation. TAKE ONE STEP TODAY. Schedule a checkup. Review your results. Write down a question. Share the Blue Cure Men’s Health Checklist with someone who may need it. Blue Cure’s education, patient conversations and community outreach continue throughout the year. Download the checklist at BlueCure.org. If this work has helped you or someone you care about, please consider making a $10 gift at BlueCure.org/donate. This infographic is part of Blue Cure’s 2026 Know Your Numbers initiative, supported by H-E-B. Education only. Not a substitute for professional medical advice.

Why Men Should Know Their Numbers Before Symptoms Start 'A routine checkup at 35 led to a prostate cancer diagnosis, and knowing your numbers can start that conversation earlier,' - @GabeCanales futureofpersonalhealth.com/p…

Read this week’s Blue Cure email + subscribe: conta.cc/4hkbX03 You cannot manage what you do not measure.

PROSTATE CANCER & ED WHAT IS A VED? Erectile dysfunction can be part of the conversation after prostate cancer treatment, but vacuum erection devices are not only for men with prostate cancer. In this clip, urologist Nicholas Deebel, MD, explains that a VED, or vacuum erection device, is one option that may be used by men with erectile dysfunction, including men with and without a history of prostate cancer. A VED is a suction-based device placed over the penis. The vacuum helps draw blood into the penis. A ring placed near the base can then help keep that blood in place. Dr. Deebel also uses the term tumescence. In plain language, tumescence means the swelling or filling of the penis with blood that occurs as an erection develops. Rigidity simply refers to firmness. A VED is only one option for erectile dysfunction. It may be appropriate for some men and not others, depending on their health, treatment history, goals, and individual situation. If you are dealing with erectile dysfunction after prostate cancer treatment, or for any other reason, you do not have to figure it out alone. Ask a urologist: “What may be causing my ED?” “Would a VED make sense for me?” “What other treatment options should I know about?” The goal is education, not embarrassment. Ask questions and learn your options. Guest: Nicholas Deebel, MD Assistant Professor of Urology Director of Men’s Sexual Health & Male Reproductive Medicine University of South Alabama usahealthsystem.com/provider… Educational only. Not medical advice. Talk with your doctor or urologist about your individual symptoms, health history, and treatment options.

YOU CANNOT MANAGE WHAT YOU DO NOT MEASURE. Feeling well does not always tell the whole story. High blood pressure, high cholesterol and elevated blood sugar can be present without obvious warning signs. Prostate cancer may also cause no symptoms in its early stages. Knowing your numbers can provide useful information, flag potential concerns and help you ask better questions. A PSA test does not diagnose prostate cancer by itself, but it can be part of an informed conversation about prostate health. During Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, you do not need to understand every number on your own. Start with one step: schedule a routine checkup and ask your doctor: Which health numbers should I know? What do my results mean? Should I ask about a PSA test? In this excerpt from Domingo Live on KIII-TV, the ABC affiliate in Corpus Christi, Blue Cure founder Gabe Canales explains why men should not wait for symptoms to take their health seriously. Ask Questions is part of Blue Cure’s Know Your Numbers initiative, supported by H-E-B. Download the Blue Cure Men’s Health Checklist at BlueCure.org. This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice.

Read this week’s Blue Cure email & subscribe: conta.cc/4rePSog What can someone do with this information today? During Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, we hear plenty of statistics. This week’s email focuses on a practical step: nudging the men in your life with two simple but powerful questions. “When was your last checkup?” “Have you asked your doctor about a PSA test?” A simple reminder from someone who cares can help start an important conversation.