For men in the United States, prostate cancer is one of the deadliest diseases.
The American Cancer Society says that about one out of seven men will be diagnosed with the disease in their lifetime, and about one in 39 men will die from prostate cancer. Men older than 45 should be checked once a year for prostate cancer, but without insurance, exams can be pricey.
But later this month, the Northside Hospital Cancer Institute will offer free screenings for prostate cancer at its campus in Alpharetta at 3400 Old Milton Parkway.
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Screenings are set for Aug. 23 between 5:30 and 8 p.m. To schedule an appointment, call 404-531-4444. Interpretation services are free for non-English speaking patients.
To be eligible for the screening, patients must be men between 45 and 75 years of age, have never been diagnosed with prostate cancer and have not had an exam within the past year.
The hospital says that screenings consist of a simple blood test to measure the amount of protein-specific antigen in the blood. Men are strongly encouraged to have all the facts before making the decision to undergo testing. Digital rectal exams are no longer offered at Northside Hospital prostate screenings.
The results of the tests will be mailed to patients within 14 business days of the screening.
For more information, visit Northside Hospital's website. Screenings will also be available at the hospital's Atlanta campus on Oct. 11.
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