Minority Men More Likely to Get Prostate Cancer – Hammond

Cancer Center offers free prostate cancer screening during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

  The month of September, National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, should be an annual reminder of the startling prostate cancer statistics that exist in our state, especially for African-American men. In research conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Louisiana ranked first in the nation per 100,000 men for prostate cancer incidence. These rates proved to be 70 percent higher in African-American men than white men, and death rates were twice as high. Due to these findings, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center in Hammond is offering a free prostate cancer screening during September to help detect cancer earlier, giving more minority men a chance at beating the disease. Prostate screenings are for men age 50 and older who do not have a doctor or have not been screened in the past 12 months. Those at higher risk such as African-American men and men with a family history of prostate cancer should consider being screened beginning at age 45. The prostate cancer screening is performed by a doctor and includes a PSA blood test and physical exam. The American Cancer Society recommends discussing prostate screening with a doctor to determine if it is right for you.   The following free prostate cancer screening is being offered during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month: Tuesday, September 17 Gabriel Supply Building 510 W. Pine St. Ponchatoula, LA 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. No appointment necessary For more information, please call (225) 215-1234 or at toll-free (888) 616-4687.                      Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center is a regional cancer care organization that has been fighting cancer for over 40 years. With five centers in Baton Rouge, Covington, Hammond, Houma and Gonzales, its service area encompasses 18 parishes across southeast Louisiana.  For more information, please visit www.marybird.org.