Prostate cancer is often curable if diagnosed early and early detection
can be critical, according to the Prostate Cancer Coalition of North Carolina.
A patient with prostate cancer may experience physically uncomfortable
symptoms (weak urinary stream, difficulty starting urination, interruption
of urine flow, painful or burning with urination, urgency or difficulty
postponing urination, frequent urination, awakening frequently at night
to urinate and / or blood in urine). Early diagnosis increases chances
of recovery dramatically.
For the general population a man has about a 16% chance (1 in 6) of being
diagnosed with prostate cancer and about a 3% percent chance (1 in 35)
of dying from prostate cancer. Every man is at risk. Men with a family
history of prostate cancer and African-American men have an increased
risk. Screening annually for prostate cancer to confirm health can give
men and their families peace of mind. Finding cancer early provides more
treatment options and increases the chance of effective treatment.
If you are a man who has reached 50 years old, or you care for a man more
than 50 years old, getting a prostate cancer screening once a year, every
year, is important to you. According to ACS, African American men and
men with a family history should consider beginning screening at age 45.
During Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, hundreds of screening centers
offer free or low cost prostate cancer screenings to men in their communities.
Catawba Valley Medical Center, Frye Regional Medical Center and Viewmont
Urology Clinic are offering free screenings in September for those men
who have not had the screening within the last six to eight months. The
dates and times are as follows: Frye Regional Medical Center: Monday,
Sept. 14, 2 to 4 p.m., and Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2 to 4 p.m., at FryeCare,
1781 Tate Blvd, SE, Suite 101, Hickory. Please call 828-315-3391 or 1-800-339-8758
to register.
Catawba Valley Medical Center: Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2 to 4 p.m., and Thursday,
Sept. 17, 2 to 4 p.m. at CVMC’s Health First Center at Valley Hills
Mall, Hickory. Please call 828-485-2300 to register.