Former U.S. Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, according to news reports. However, the 73-year-old, who is leading the investigation into steroid use in Major League Baseball players, is expected to make a full recovery, since the cancer is small, localized and was caught early enough.

Prostate cancer is a serious health concern among men over 60, but with regular screenings, prognosis is often good for those diagnosed with it.

A stunned, devastated and overwhelmed Ken Griffey Jr. has learned this week that not one, but both parents have been diagnosed with cancer. His father, former Cincinnati Reds player Ken Griffey Sr. has been diagnosed with prostate cancer and his mother, Alberta "Bertie" Griffey has been diagnosed with colon cancer. His father's prostate cancer has been discovered in its early stage but his mother is scheduled for colon cancer surgery today.

Faced with tough decisions, he is not certain if he will play baseball this week or spend time with his parents. It is reported that his mother has asked him to continue playing baseball and the Reds manager has stated it wouldn't be a problem if Griffey wanted to take time off to be with his family.

According to Medline Plus, excluding skin cancers, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in men and in women in the United States. The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that about 106,680 new cases of colon cancer will be diagnosed this year alone. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer, other than skin cancers, for American men. The ACS estimates that one in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime. In the US, there are approximately 1.8 million prostate cancer survivors.

In an earlier post, I mentioned that the Major League Baseball's Prostate Cancer Foundation's Home Run Challenge will be using Father's Day as a way to raise awareness about prostate cancer at the games played on Sunday. I said I thought it was a clever way solution for daughters who might feel awkward beginning a conversation about prostate health with their dad. I wondered if Hallmark made a card for the occasion, or how realistic it would be that many daughters would say, "Happy Father's Day and have you thought about your prostate lately."

I might have been alone in my opinion of a daughter's reluctance to speak about prostate cancer with her dad on Father's Day as a way to make him aware of his prostate and prostate cancer risks, but it appears the Prostate Cancer Foundation anticipated this awkwardness as common enough a situation they have developed a Father's Day Kit that offers women tips on how to start a prostate health conversation with their father. The kit includes conversation tips, an introduction to cancer, and frequently asked questions about prostate cancer.

You can download the Father's Day Kit here. I recommend downloading it, however, I am going to make an independent suggestion that I am certain will be frowned upon by all the organizations using Father's Day as a way to raise awareness for prostate cancer.

Skip  the conversation until Monday. Some days were meant for all the joy that can possibly be had, and I don't care how well you bring the subject up, reminding your dad of a disease he should be worried about seems more of a buzz kill than a help. Just enjoy your dad on the one day of the year designated to honor him for being a great dad, and allow him an opportunity to enjoy everything that Father's Day means in family gatherings and celebration. The conversation about prostate health can wait one more day.

If you are a Major League Baseball fan -- better yet -- if you are a Los Angeles Dodgers fan, and looking to add to your collection of sports memorabilia -- all in the name of breast cancer charity -- there are only two days left to bid on the Los Angeles Dodgers Team 2006 Mother's Day Commemorative Home Plate at the Going to Bat Against Breast Cancer auction.

Signatures include: Danys Baez, Jo Beimel, Jonathan Broxton, Eric Gagne, Derek Lowe, Franquelis Osoria, Odalis Perez, Takashi Saito, Aaron Sele, Jae Seo, Brett Tomko, Sandy Alomar, Russell Martin, Willy Aybar, Nomar Garciaparra, Cesar Izturis, Ramon Martinez, Bill Mueller, Oscar Robles, Olmedo Saenz, Jose Cruz, J.D. Drew, Andre Ethier, Kenny Lofton, Dave Jauss, Mariano Duncan, Eddie Murray, Rick Honeycutt, Dan Warthen and Manny Mota.

All proceeds benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Hurry, the auction is almost over. Go here to bid.

This Father's Day, as part of Major League Baseball's Prostate Cancer Foundation's Home Run Challenge, the seventh-inning stretch will be moved to the sixth inning to symbolize that one out of six men in the country will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. In addition, players, managers, coaches, trainers, umpires and groundskeepers will raise awareness and show support by wearing blue wristbands, blue ribbon uniform decals, blue eye glare and temporary blue ribbon tattoos.

"People are starting to age. We're just trying to make sure that people are aware of how important it is to get the message out and have guys talk about it, because as men, sometimes we're reluctant to talk about health issues," states Home Run Challenge spokesperson Ozzie Smith. "Being part of the baby boomers, this falls right into our lap. It's important to at least make an effort to make people more aware of how important it is to get checked. When we talk to them when they're 40 to 45, by the time they get to 50, they'll be ready to take the plunge to get things done."

See, you could take your dad to a ballgame and he could learn all about the need to be screened for prostate cancer without you trying to find a way to work the subject of your dad's prostate into conversation. For some, that conversation might be an easy one to have with dad. But for others, saying "Happy Father's Day and have you thought about your prostate lately," might seem awkward. Does Hallmark even make a card for that conversation? A day at the ballpark seems a clever solution.

In a Major League Baseball first, players Derek Jeter, David Eckstein and Marcus Giles are among dozens of players who will be swinging Louisville Slugger baby pink baseball bats to honor mothers on Mother's Day and to raise money for breast cancer charity. In addition, the bats, home plates, and lineup cards will be autographed by the teams and auctioned off, with proceeds going to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. More than 400 of the limited edition baseball bats are being dyed at the Louisville Slugger factory for 50-plus players. David Ortiz, Jim Edmonds, Mark Teixeira, Michael Young and Hank Blalock have requested a baby pink baseball bat for the Sunday games.

"It takes a big man to swing a pink bat in a major league game," remarked Howard Smith, senior vice president for licensing for MLB. Commissioner Bud Selig and other executives all support the baby pink bat idea. Some of the players are requesting that their mother's name be burned into the bats.

Thanks to Jacki Donaldson! for the tip!
Photo credit: Brian Bohannon / Associated Press

In observance of Brain Tumor Awareness Week, which begins May 1st, and to continue to honor the memory of Tug McGraw -- Phillies and Mets major league baseball player relief pitcher who established the Tug McGraw Foundation before dying of brain cancer in 2004 -- a new web resource has been created that provides people living with brain cancer information and support for the special issues facing survivors, family and friends.

Jennifer Brusstar, CEO for the Tug McGraw Foundation, and Jeff McMahon, a foundation board member and keyboard player for Tim McGraw's Dancehall Doctors, were instrumental in creating the new website. Tim McGraw, Grammy award-winning country singer, is Tug McGraw's son. According to the foundation, each year, over 300,000 adults and children are diagnosed with brain cancer. Brain tumors are the leading cause of cancer death in children under the age of 20, and are the third leading cause of cancer death in young adults ages 20-39.

The Tug McGraw Foundation was founded to raise brain cancer awareness and funds for research, and to provide brain tumor survivors and family support and resources for quality of life issues. The Foundation established the Tug McGraw Center for Quality of Life and Supportive Care Research in Neuro-Oncology at Duke University, and awards scholarships to college students who exemplify Tug's Ya Gotta Believe attitude.