The Prostate Cancer Centre’s Man Van is rolling into Ponoka.
Scheduled for March 24 at the Elks Club building on Highway 2A, the roving van will be offering free baseline Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood tests from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
This test is becoming a popular form of testing for prostate cancer and is for men between the ages of 40 to 80 years old, states a press release from the Prostate Cancer Centre.
Technicians will also be testing for blood pressure, blood glucose and waist circumference measurements to all men over 18.
“Balancing work, family and a social life keeps men busy,” states the release. “Health is not always top-of-mind. It can be very difficult for men to fit regular doctor visits into their schedules.”
This is another reason the van will be coming to Ponoka, which has proven to be much appreciated by residents.
“The PSA test is a simple blood test that helps in the early detection of prostate cancer,” states the Centre.
“PSA is a protein produced by the prostate and released in small amounts to the bloodstream. The amount of PSA in the bloodstream can often predict a man’s risk of prostate cancer.”
Considering that the leading cancer in Alberta men is prostate cancer (one in seven men in their lifetime), the centre hopes the Man Van will help with early detection.
“Approximately 2,600 men will be diagnosed annually with prostate cancer and eight men will die from it every week,” states the release.
“In Canada, the state of men’s health is often called the ‘silent crisis.’ Men live five years less than women on average and out of the top 15 causes of death, men lead in 14,” states the release.
Men are also less likely to avoid preventative care, plus they’ll delay treatment, pay less attention to health information and are less likely to have a healthcare provider, states the release.
By taking this test, measurements for BMI, blood pressure and blood glucose could help men determine a man’s overall health status, “and allow health practitioners to catch and possibly reverse potential problems early on.”
No appointment is necessary.
The Prostate Cancer Centre is a non-profit organization established in 1999 and focused on the early detection and treatment of prostate cancer and prostate related disease. We support excellence in prostate cancer awareness, education, diagnosis, treatment, advocacy and research with the ultimate goal of eliminating advanced prostate cancer.