Free Screenings During Prostate Cancer Awareness Week

PR Log (Press Release) – Sep 17, 2009 – DENVER – This September, the Prostate Conditions Education Council reminds men to set aside 10 minutes to take lifesaving measures.  In just 10 minutes, the same amount of time it takes to shave their faces, men can be screened for prostate cancer, the second leading cause of death among American men.  For one week this month the Prostate Conditions Education Council (PCEC) will be coordinating Prostate Cancer Awareness Week (PCAW), which provides free or low-cost screenings to thousands of men across the United States.

“Prostate cancer is most treatable in its earliest stages, and regular screenings are the best way a man can protect himself from the disease.  Unfortunately, too many men lose the battle with prostate cancer because it was caught too late,” comments Dr. E. David Crawford, Head of the Urologic Oncology Department at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and Founder/Chairman of the PCEC.  “Through programs like Prostate Cancer Awareness Week, we hope to save lives by encouraging men to get screened and learn more about this devastating disease.”

For more than a decade, the third week in September has been dedicated to prostate cancer awareness and screening.  PCAW is one of the oldest and most successfully coordinated cancer screening programs in history, which has resulted in more than three million screenings to date.  This year, PCAW will be held Sept. 20-26 and is expected to screen more than 125,000 men.  

With nearly 500 sites across the United States, every man at risk for prostate cancer has access to free or low cost screenings.  The PCEC recommends a baseline prostate health assessment, including Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test and a Digital Rectal Exam (DRE), for all men at 35 years of age and to work with their doctors to determine a screening schedule that is right for them.  Prostate cancer screenings during PCAW take about 10 minutes and include a PSA blood test and a DRE administered by a trained professional.  Men can also choose to have their cholesterol and testosterone levels checked, as many factors play into overall health awareness and a man’s risk for prostate cancer.

Given the number of factors playing into a man’s risk for prostate cancer, the PCEC has dedicated each day of PCAW to one particular topic relating to the disease. The days include:

Monday, Sept. 21 – General Prostate Cancer Awareness Day
Tuesday, Sept. 22 – Advanced Prostate Cancer Awareness Day
Wednesday, Sept. 23 – Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) Awareness Day
Thursday, Sept. 24 – Women, Families & Caregivers Day
Friday, Sept. 25 – Know Your Numbers Day
Saturday, Sept. 26 – On the Horizon Day

To find a PCAW screening site near you and for more information on prostate cancer, please visit www.prostateconditions.org or call toll free 866-4PROST8.

About Prostate Cancer Awareness Week
Since 1989, Prostate Conditions Education Council has coordinated national Prostate Cancer Awareness Week in September.  During this time period, the PCEC organizes hundreds of free or low-cost screening sites for more than 125,000 men across the country.  To date, the program has resulted in more than three million screenings.  For more information about how PCEC supports community awareness and education, please visit the Website.

About Prostate Conditions Education Council
A national organization committed to men’s health, the Prostate Conditions Education Council (PCEC) – formally the Prostate Cancer Education Council – is the nation’s leading resource for information on prostate health.  The PCEC is dedicated to saving lives through awareness and the education of men, the women in their lives, as well as the medical community about prostate cancer prevalence, the importance of early detection, and available treatment options, as well as other men’s health issues. The Council – comprised of a consortium of leading physicians, health educators, scientists and prostate cancer advocates – aims to conduct nation wide screenings for men and perform research that will aid in the detection and treatment of prostate conditions.  More information is available at www.prostateconditions.org.