The Schneck Medical Center Foundation will again sponsor free prostate cancer screening tests on September 11th, 16th, and October 7th. The screenings will be at Schneck’s Cancer Center on the medical center campus. You must have a scheduled appointment to participate in the free screening.
Prostate cancer strikes 1 in 6 American men and is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men. Over 186,000 new cases of prostate cancer will be reported in the United States this year.
There is good news. If the cancer is found before it has spread outside the prostate, the 5-year relative survival rate is 100%. If the cancer has spread to tissues near the prostate, the survival rate is 94%. Thus, early detection is critical.
The American Foundation of Urologic Disease recommends that all men between the ages of 50 and 75 be tested annually for prostate cancer. Men with a family history of prostate cancer should begin at age 40. As prostate cancer is twice as common among African-American men, it is suggested they begin annual screenings at the age of 35.
A man will be eligible for an early detection screening test, which includes prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test and a digital rectal examination (DRE), if he meets these guidelines:
•He is at least 50 years of age and has no personal history of prostate cancer and has not had a PSA blood test or DRE within the past 12 months.
•Or he is from 40 to 49 years of age, has no personal history of prostate cancer, but has a direct family member (father or brother) with a history of the disease, and has not had a PSA blood test or DRE within the past 12 months.
•Or he is an African-American, at least 35 years old, has no personal or family history of prostate cancer and has not had a PSA blood test or DRE within the past 12 months.
“We really want to encourage those who don’t have insurance to take advantage of this free screening,” says Sally Acton, RN, OCN, Director of Cancer Services. “This is a very beneficial test that unfortunately folks without insurance often go without.” You must have a scheduled appointment to participate in the free screening and time slots are limited. These free screening tests are for men who do not regularly have prostate exams and are not intended to be a replacement or substitution for regular visits to a physician.
To schedule a prostate cancer screening, call Schneck’s Cancer Center at 812-522-0477. Please leave your name and phone number and your call will be returned promptly. Again, screening times are limited so please call early.
