Its time for men to know the score
Buehlers Parkside to host free prostate cancer screening, Oct. 24
By Jennifer R. Demuth
of The Bargain Hunter
October 15, 2009
726
According to the American Cancer Society, 192,280 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed, and 27,360 men will die of prostate cancer by the end of this year. The staff at Buehlers Parkside wants to make sure that area men dont become part of these death statistics. Thats why the store has teamed up with the northeastern Ohio chapter of the Men Against Prostate Cancer organization to provide free prostate cancer screenings for men 40 and older.
On Saturday, Oct. 24, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Buehlers Parkside store, 3000 North Wooster Avenue, Dover, a mobile unit will be parked outside the store entrance, and no appointment will be needed for men to get the free prostate cancer screening. Every woman who accompanies her significant other to the screening will receive a special gift, and men and their families will have a chance to visit with Pete Rademacher, the 1956 Olympic gold medalist in boxing, (a prostate cancer survivor who made boxing history by being the only man to fight for the world heavyweight championship in his first professional fight).
Since prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in American men and about one in 35 men will die of prostate cancer, Men Against Prostate Cancer promotes the theme of Hey, Man, know your score? John D. Henderson, an advocate for the organization, explained, A normal PSA is 2.5 or below. Thats why we suggest remembering your score and why the man should be tested each year because there are jumps occasionally with PSA scores and follow up may be needed. Very often a man has no symptoms, so getting a score, remembering it, and then having a test done the next year gives one an ounce of prevention for a pound of cure.
Area men who want the free prostate cancer screening need only show up between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., fill out some simple forms and proceed into the 39-foot mobile unit to be tested privately. Blood will be drawn to determine the amount of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the blood, and a second optional digital rectal exam (DRE) will be conducted by a medical doctor. The whole process takes only about 15 minutes, and test results will be sent by mail within three to four weeks. At the conclusion of the tests, each man will get a free hot dog, chips and beverage. Our goal is to reach 250 men, said Henderson. Surprisingly, there will be many men who are cured of prostate cancer who will bring their buddies in for the free test.
Henderson added that knowing the score can impact other areas of health as well. Please remember that the prostate gland can be a problem in many ways beyond being a cancer problem. The prostate is about the size of a walnut and, with age, can get infected, enlarged and irritated in many ways. If a man is getting up more often than he should to go to the bathroom at night or is complaining about other problems with urination, these are some general health concerns that can be treated but only when these two tests (PSA and DRE) are conducted.
Doug Wills, store manager, and Linda Zesiger, service and facility manager of Buehlers Parkside, felt the free prostate screening would be helpful to area men during these tough economic times, and the cause hit close to home. We are very people-oriented and want to provide services that help promote a healthy lifestyle at minimal cost, shared Zesiger. This is very important to Doug Wills. He discovered that he had prostate cancer two years ago from doing a routine check-up. Thank God the PSA test was run because he had no symptoms or any problems. With Gods blessing, he is doing fine today. He will continue to have his PSA checked every three months for five years.
Men Against Prostate Cancer is a nonprofit charity that works to advance the early detection and awareness of prostate cancer and was formed by a group of Ohio businessmen. For more information about the free screening, call 330-854-5209. Do not let this opportunity go by, urged Wills. Know your score. It could save your life.
