Did you know that about one out of seven men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime? Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American men, behind only lung cancer. The American Cancer Society’s estimates for prostate cancer in the U.S. for 2014 are that over 233,000 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed and over 29,480 will die because they didn’t get an examination or didn’t act soon enough.
That’s why Coffee Regional Medical Center, Dr. Al Mazur, and Dr. Khondker Islam are teaming up to conduct low cost prostate cancer screenings for a reduced lab fee of only $10.00. White males between the ages of 50 to 80 years (or younger with a family history of prostate cancer) and African-American males between the ages of 40 to 80 years are eligible for screening. The screening clinics will be held Thursday, September 18, from 4 to 7 p.m. and Saturday, September 20, from 8 to 11 a.m. at Coffee Regional Medical Center.
Prostate cancer is cancer that originates in the prostate gland, a male genital gland about the size of a walnut located in front of the rectum. Cancer of the prostate is the most common type of cancer (excluding skin cancer) among American men. There are two tests commonly used to detect prostate cancer, the PSA blood test (PSA stands for prostate-specific antigen) and the digital rectal exam (DRE) of the prostate gland. For the DRE, the health care professional inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum to feel any irregular or abnormally firm area, which may indicate that a tumor is present. Most prostate cancers begin in the part of the prostate gland that can be reached by a DRE. This exam also helps to detect early rectal tumors. If either the PSA blood test or the DRE has an abnormal finding, further medical evaluation is needed.
Prostate cancer occurs mainly in older men. About six cases in 10 are diagnosed in men aged 65 or older, and it is rare before age 40. The average age at the time of diagnosis is about 66. Apart from age, little is understood about what puts a man at risk for prostate cancer or what puts African Americans at higher risks of developing the disease.
There are very few early warning signs of prostate cancer. Typically, this cancer is without symptoms until it has advanced beyond the prostate and is no longer curable. The best chance for cure is early detection, while the disease is still confined to the prostate. The earlier prostate cancer is discovered, the better the chances are that it can be treated effectively.
Call 383-6943 for more information.