Paid post by Bayer
AS A PROFESSIONAL quarterback for 13 seasons, Tony Romo* was known for his adaptability, pocket presence, and improvisational skill. But when his father, Ramiro, was diagnosed with prostate cancer, it was a blitz Tony never saw coming.
“My dad is unbreakable,” Tony says. “When he first called [with the diagnosis], I didn’t really feel the weight of it, maybe because he’ll never let on that he’s emotionally hurting or going through something. Because he’s a dad, he wants to protect his children.”
As he processed the news of his father’s diagnosis, Tony did what he’s always done in pressure moments: assess the situation and look for answers. He wanted to know if his dad’s cancer was rare or common, and what the numbers said. The deeper he got into the research, the heavier everything felt.
“As a son, I thought I’d have 40 more years with him, but this created moments of fear that it might not be true,” Tony says. “Through it all, I tried to stay positive, but hearing people talk about this topic in whispers made it feel like a big deal, and a scary one.”
Ramiro heard the whispers, too. He noticed that few people wanted to talk about prostate cancer, and although he felt supported by his family, the diagnosis was overwhelming. “When you find out you have cancer, it’s a lot to process,” he says. “It’s important to remember that there are options to help manage prostate cancer today and many resources available too, and everyone needs to know that.”
The Romos’ Game Plan
AFTER BEING DIAGNOSED with prostate cancer, Ramiro feels thankful to be where he is today. He’s now one of the 3.5 million men in the U.S. who have faced prostate cancer. But that doesn’t mean he and Tony are done talking about it—they’re just getting started.
The father-son Romo duo recently announced they’ve teamed up with Bayer on ‘Highlights REAL,’ a campaign designed to spark important conversations about prostate cancer—the leading cancer diagnosed among men in the U.S.—by empowering patients and their families to take an active role in their health. The Romos encourage men with advanced prostate cancer and their caregivers to have a game plan in place when discussing treatment options, like NUBEQA® (darolutamide), with their doctor.
NUBEQA is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with prostate cancer:
- that has not spread to other parts of the body and no longer responds to a medical or surgical treatment that lowers testosterone
- that has spread to other parts of the body and responds to a medical or surgical treatment that lowers testosterone
- that has spread to other parts of the body and responds to a medical or surgical treatment that lowers testosterone in combination with docetaxel.
It is not known if NUBEQA is safe and effective in females or children.
Possible serious side effects include heart disease and seizure. The most common side effects of NUBEQA include increase in liver function tests, decreased white blood cells (neutropenia) and feeling more tired than usual. The most common side effects of NUBEQA when used in combination with docetaxel include, constipation, rash, decreased appetite, bleeding, weight gain, high blood pressure, decreased red blood cells (anemia), high blood sugar levels, decreased white blood cells, increase in liver function tests, low blood calcium levels. These are not all the side effects of NUBEQA. It’s important to consider these—and all possible side effects—when discussing whether NUBEQA may be an appropriate treatment option. See additional important safety information and full Prescribing Information for NUBEQA below.
The Romos encourage men with prostate cancer and their caregivers to ask their doctors if NUBEQA may be right for them.
Tony and Ramiro recently came together to provide play-by-play commentary, not on football, but of advanced prostate cancer patients and their caregivers, fostering a deeper appreciation for everyday moments, both big and small. When Tony and Ramiro started thinking about their highlights, the father son duo got on a roll of memory sharing: Ramiro running a senior golf event in his hometown to show love for the game after decades of bonding with Tony on the links; Tony spending time with his parents in Dallas when they would come to see him play; the whole family watching Tony’s kids thrive in youth sports themselves.
At the center of all of these highlights is Joan Romo, Ramiro’s wife and Tony’s mom, who both consider to be the glue holding the family together. Ramiro chokes up when talking about her role in his life. “Joan has been there for me every step of the way,” he says. “She’s even starting to pick up golf now, in her 60s, even though she’s never played before. That’s support.”
These are the moments that ‘Highlights REAL’ is all about—the kind that can get easily overshadowed by the demands of battling prostate cancer. Just like so many families dealing with the disease—in the U.S. more than 300,000 new cases are expected to be diagnosed in the next year—the Romos know there can be uncertainty. But focusing on the meaningful parts of daily life can help families stay anchored during uncertain times.
Highlighting What Matters
AS THE ROMOS say, the stuff you do is the stuff worth celebrating. ‘Highlights REAL’ celebrates advanced prostate cancer patients and their caregivers doing exactly that: fixing up an antique car, sitting down for coffee with your partner, or going fishing with your son.
“Partnering with Bayer has allowed me to engage in some of the most meaningful work of my career—spotlighting the everyday experiences of patients with advanced prostate cancer,” Tony says. “I hope this campaign inspires others to appreciate the small, meaningful moments in life and take proactive steps when it comes to prostate cancer screening and treatment management. Having witnessed my dad navigate his own journey with prostate cancer, I’ve come to deeply appreciate the importance of being vigilant and informed about your options.”
Visit HighlightsREAL.com to watch the ‘Highlights REAL’ video, learn more about the campaign and find support for navigating discussions about advanced prostate cancer treatment with your doctor, including our Caregiver Guide to NUBEQA.
*Tony Romo does not have prostate cancer and is not a NUBEQA patient. Ramiro is not a NUBEQA patient.
How Much Do You Know About Prostate Cancer?
FOR THE ROMOS, staying informed became a crucial part of navigating prostate cancer. Take this brief true-or-false quiz to check your own knowledge and learn more about the disease.
True: A survey conducted by Bayer and OptiBrand, involving over 500 prostate cancer caregivers and patients, underscores the critical role caregivers play, with results revealing that more than 75 percent are involved in facilitating the patient’s first prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screen.
False: Although elevated levels of the protein called prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, can be an early indicator of cancer, your level may be elevated due to other conditions such as a benign enlarged prostate or an inflammation of the prostate gland. That’s why it’s just one part of cancer screening.
True: The risk of prostate cancer rises significantly after age 50 but can be found in men younger than 40. However, it’s important to keep in mind this type of cancer is considered rare in young men.
True: Talking to your doctor is a great first step. Your doctor can help your discuss treatment options, including potential side effects, and help you decide what treatment is right for you.
False: Not all men with prostate cancer experience symptoms. For some men, symptoms of prostate cancer can include frequent urination, painful ejaculation, erectile dysfunction, or blood in the urine. That’s why screening is so important.
True: Experts still aren’t sure what causes cells in the prostate to become cancer cells. But there are known risk factors, such as age (about 60 percent of prostate cancer cases occur in men over 65), family history of prostate cancer, obesity, and smoking. Also, risk is higher if you’re Black or of African ancestry.
Uses and Important Safety Information
What is NUBEQA?
NUBEQA (darolutamide) is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with prostate cancer:
- that has not spread to other parts of the body and no longer responds to a medical or surgical treatment that lowers testosterone
- that has spread to other parts of the body and responds to a medical or surgical treatment that lowers testosterone
- that has spread to other parts of the body and responds to a medical or surgical treatment that lowers testosterone in combination with docetaxel.
It is not known if NUBEQA is safe and effective in females or children.
Important Safety Information
Before taking NUBEQA, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:
- have heart problems
- have high blood pressure
- have diabetes
- have high amounts of fat or cholesterol in your blood (dyslipidemia)
- have a history of seizures, brain injury, stroke, or brain tumors
- have kidney or liver problems
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. NUBEQA can cause harm to your unborn baby and loss of pregnancy (miscarriage).
- have a partner who may become pregnant. Males who have female partners who may become pregnant should use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment and for 1 week after the last dose of NUBEQA. Talk with your healthcare provider about birth control methods.
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if NUBEQA passes into breast milk.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. NUBEQA may affect the way other medicines work and other medicines may affect how NUBEQA works.
You should not start or stop any medicine before you talk with the healthcare provider that prescribed NUBEQA.
Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them with you to show to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.
NUBEQA may cause serious side effects, including:
- Heart disease. Blockage of the arteries in the heart (ischemic heart disease) that can lead to death has happened in some people during treatment with NUBEQA. Your healthcare provider will monitor you for signs and symptoms of heart problems during your treatment with NUBEQA. Call your healthcare provider or get medical help right away if you get chest pain or discomfort at rest or with activity, or shortness of breath during your treatment with NUBEQA.
- Seizure. Treatment with NUBEQA may increase your risk of having a seizure. You should avoid activities where a sudden loss of consciousness could cause serious harm to yourself or others. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have loss of consciousness or seizure during treatment with NUBEQA.
The most common side effects of NUBEQA include:
- increase in liver function tests
- decreased white blood cells (neutropenia)
- feeling more tired than usual
The most common side effects of NUBEQA in combination with docetaxel include:
- constipation
- decreased red blood cells (anemia)
- rash
- high blood sugar levels
- decreased appetite
- decreased white blood cells
- bleeding
- increase in liver function tests
- weight gain
- low blood calcium levels
- high blood pressure
NUBEQA may cause fertility problems in males, which may affect the ability to father children. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have concerns about fertility.
These are not all the possible side effects of NUBEQA.
Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects. You are encouraged to report side effects or quality complaints of products to the FDA by visiting www.fda.gov/medwatch or calling 1-800-FDA- 1088.
Please see full Prescribing Information at www.NUBEQA-us.com/PI
Elizabeth Millard is a freelance writer focusing on health, wellness, fitness, and food.
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