Free Prostate Cancer Screenings at Harlan ARH
Harlan ARH Hospital will offer free prostate cancer screenings for men on Monday, October 19 and Monday, October 26 from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the ARH Daniel Boone Clinic, 37 Ball Park Road in Harlan. Appointments are required. Call 606.573.4520 to schedule your free prostate cancer screening.
According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American men, behind lung cancer. About one man in 41 will die of prostate cancer. This year the American Cancer Society has estimated there will be about 191,930 new cases of prostate cancer and about 33,330 deaths from prostate cancer in the United States.
“Though prostate cancer is rare in men younger than 40, the chance of prostate cancer increases significantly after age 50, especially in African American men or those with a family history of prostate cancer,” said ARH Urologist Seymour Kilstein, DO.
The American Cancer Society recommends these screening guidelines:
- Age 50 for men who are at average risk of prostate cancer and are expected to live at least 10 more years.
- Age 45 for men at high risk of developing prostate cancer. This includes African Americans and men who have a first-degree relative (father or brother) diagnosed with prostate cancer at an early age (younger than age 65).
- Age 40 for men at even higher risk (those with more than one first-degree relative who had prostate cancer at an early age).
Most prostate cancers can be found early through screening. Men who want to be screened for prostate cancer should be tested with the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test. Men with a PSA level between 4 and 10 have about a 1 in 4 chance of having prostate cancer. If the PSA is more than 10, the chance of having prostate cancer is over 50 percent. In addition, the digital rectal exam (DRE) can be done as a part of the screening. The prostate is in front of the rectum. Prostate cancers often begin in the back part of the gland, which may be found during a rectal exam.
For more information on prostate cancer and early detection, visit www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer/early-detection. If you are 40 or older, schedule an appointment with Dr. Kilstein to get screened for prostate cancer. The screening is free when scheduled during 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on either October 19 or October 26. Call 606.573.4520 to schedule your free prostate cancer screening.