Prostate Cancer Most Frequently Diagnosed Cancer in Men

Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center offers free prostate cancer screening

  Prostate cancer awareness is important during any month but especially during September, the month designated as National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. According to the American Cancer Society, other than skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in men. African-American men are disproportionately affected, with a prostate cancer incidence two-thirds higher than whites and a mortality rate twice as high. Due to these findings, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center is offering a free prostate cancer screening during September to help detect this cancer earlier, giving more 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. 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 following free prostate screening is being offered during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month:

Tuesday, September 9 Walmart 16759 Hwy. 3235 Galliano, LA 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Appointment not required

For more information, please call (225) 215-1234 or toll-free at (888) 616-4687.   Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center is a regional cancer care organization that has been fighting cancer for more than 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.