Men age 40 and over will be able to get screened for prostate cancer at no cost as the Urology Health Foundation holds free screenings from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 12, at the Sumter County Health Department in Livingston, Alabama.

 

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American men, and age and race are the strongest risk factors for prostate cancer. African-American men are at special risk for the disease, with the highest death rate for prostate cancer of any racial or ethnic group in the U.S. A man’s risk of prostate cancer also increases if he has a close relative with the disease.

 

It is now more important than ever for those at highest risk of developing prostate cancer to be screened if they have delayed being screened due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

According to Dr. Thomas Moody, president of the Urology Health Foundation, there are no noticeable symptoms of prostate cancer while it is still in the early stages. If, however, a man with prostate cancer waits to act until he has symptoms, the cancer may already have grown outside the prostate and progressed to the point where it is rarely curable.

 

Dr. Moody stresses that regular screening offers the best way to maximize a man’s chances of discovering the cancer while it is still in its early–and most curable—stages.

 

Screening for prostate cancer involves a simple blood test called a PSA that measures the level of protein called prostate-specific antigen in the blood. Normally PSA is found in the blood at very low levels. Elevated PSA readings can be a sign of prostate cancer. A physical examination–called a digital rectal exam or DRE–is also given to detect prostate cancer. Together, these tests take about 10 minutes to perform.

 

Early detection and treatment are key factors in addressing prostate cancer, and all eligible men are encouraged to take advantage of the free screening. No appointments are necessary.

 

For more information about this free screening, please contact the Sumter County Health Department at 205-652-7972.