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Ken Griffey, Sr.

Ken Griffey, Sr.

Baseball runs in the Griffey family. But so does something else—prostate cancer. After losing four uncles to prostate cancer and being diagnosed with the disease in 2006, Ken Griffey, Sr. wants all men who have family histories of prostate cancer to be checked by their doctor on a regular basis. Now cancer free, Griffey, Sr. joined The Depend® to help strike out prostate cancer.

  • Question 1: Other than Gordie Howe, who had to come out of retirement to do it, you might be the best-known athlete to have played with his son. What was that like?


    It is right at the top, period. I'd say second would be the first World Series we won with the Reds in 1975 against Boston.


    I really didn't expect Junior to get to the big leagues as quick as he did, at 19, and I didn't think I would be in the league for 19 years myself. It really was a total surprise all around and very enjoyable.


    I didn't see much of him when he came up, how he was developing, because I was playing a lot. For six years, he didn't get to hit with me watching him. Even when he was drafted No. 1, I didn't believe he was the No. 1 player in the nation, but when I got the opportunity to watch him, I said, "Yeah, he's the No. 1 player."


  • Question 2: You urged both of your sons to get tested. Did they?


    Kenny has been tested. Craig has been tested. I stay on them and they talk to me every once in a while about it.


    Junior is a little older than Craig—he's 40—and Craig is 39. We talked about how it was best to get their PSAs tested. They are very aware of their health.


    We talk, mostly casually, and get it done that way.


  • Question 3: Many men, including African-American men, don't like going to the doctor. How do you use your platform to help men understand the importance of seeing a doctor?


    All men are macho, they don't want to hear about it, don't want to go through anything like testing or visiting the doctor. They don't like to go to a doctor and find out what's wrong.


    Prostate cancer is a situation where you don't know what is wrong, there really are no symptoms, so you've got to get your PSAs tested. You have to go get checked.


    Most men will not talk about it. I recently met six or seven guys who had the surgery and wouldn't talk about it. So the best thing for me to do is try to get the word out, and the best way to fight prostate cancer is early detection.


    When I go out with Depend®, I answer questions on what I went through and the product itself and what a great program this is.


  • Question 4: Why did you decide to work with Depend® on "The Depend® Campaign to End Prostate Cancer"?


    I am a cancer survivor and it is important to me that men, especially African-American men, get early screenings. It's important because the percentages dictate that one in four African-Americans will get prostate cancer during their lifetime. I lost four uncles to prostate cancer, and I try to do my part and help people get tested and hopefully find a cure for it.


    The biggest thing is making talking about prostate cancer more casual conversation than anything. There is no pressure. When people ask me about the symptoms and all that kind of stuff, or what I had to do in terms of diagnosis, I explain to them that I just got the screenings, had the PSAs done and found it was high—and we decided on the best course for treatment.

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