October 26, 2009
The Urology Center of Colorado Foundation and the Center for African American Health Hold Free Prostate Cancer Screening As Part Of Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
On Saturday, September 26 The Urology Center of Colorado (TUCC) Foundation and the Center for African American Health held a free prostate cancer screening for the local community as part of Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Two hundred eighty-one men were screened for prostate cancer and other health conditions during the event.
In order to provide men with a comprehensive screening for conditions that may lead to a prostate cancer diagnosis, this screening was not limited to just PSA or Digital Rectal Exams (DRE). Participating men were screened for or provided information on 14 different conditions including: prostate cancer, testicular cancer, bladder cancer, smoke cessation (the leading cause of bladder cancer), cholesterol, erectile dysfunction, low testosterone, blood pressure check, BMI, diabetes, colon cancer, vitamin D, nutrition and depression.
“Our annual screening continues to grow and make more of an impact on the local community,” said Martha Ruschival, R.N., TUCC Foundation board member. “This year, our goal was to screen as many African American men for prostate cancer as possible because they are at such a high risk of being diagnosed with the disease.”
According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed non-skin cancer among American men, with more than 192,000 new cases expected to be diagnosed in 2009. In Colorado, more than 3,000 prostate cancer cases will be diagnosed this year. Prostate cancer is now the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the State. However, thanks to early detection and advancements in treatment therapies, mortality rates for the disease are declining.
Annual PSA and DRE exams are the best prevention against prostate cancer. All men should undergo annual prostate cancer screenings beginning at age 50. High risk men such as African Americans or men with a positive family history should begin these screenings at age 40. When caught at the earliest stage, prostate cancer has cure rates greater than 90 percent.
For more information about men’s health or TUCC Foundation, please visit www.tucc.com/foundation. For more information about the Center for African American Health, visit www.caahealth.org.
