Former Steelers linebacker Robin Cole learned 18 months ago that he had prostate cancer. He was lucky. His cancer was diagnosed early and doctors were able to treat it with a relatively new procedure that is less invasive.

Now, Cole spends much of his time encouraging other men to get prostate examinations. The earlier, the better, he says.

He knows because prostate cancer has stricken his family. Cole has 10 siblings; of his seven brothers, five have the cancer. His father and his dad's twin both died of the disease.

Cole is now working with Clergy and Churches United, a consortium of seven Hill District ministries, and Us Too, an international support group for prostate cancer survivors, which kicked off an awareness campaign yesterday that will include free health screenings, messages from the pulpit and community workshops throughout the next two months.

It will culminate June 11, when the groups aim to host 500 men at an awareness breakfast. Then, on June 19, Father's Day, there will be a 5K race and health walk at North Shore River Park; they are expecting at least 1,000 men for the event.

Prostate cancer is often called the "quiet killer," because it strikes without symptoms. By the time they show up -- incontinence and urinary complications -- it's too late for preventive measures.

One in every six men 40 and older will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, the incidence rate for black men is 60 percent greater than for white males and black men are almost two times as likely to die from the disease as white men.

Inadequate access to health care, living in denial and a lack of understanding are three reasons that prostate cancer affects black men so severely.

Other factors include a diet high in fat and red meat, smoking and little exercise. Machismo, or men believing they must suffer in silence, and failure to know family history can be contributors as well.

We're doing this, said Carolyn Howard, head of Clergy and Churches United, because "we need more men in the community, not less."

For more information, call 412-765-3190 or 412-572-6830.