Free Prostate Cancer Screenings at BMH

September is National Prostate Screening Awareness Week, so Brattleboro Memorial Hospital will once again be offering a free prostate screening clinic this month. The focus of this year’s screening, which is scheduled for Monday, September 27th at 5:30 p.m., is to reach individuals who have not yet received an initial screening. Prostate cancer is the second leading cancer killer in American men.

For men, the greatest risk of cancer statistically throughout life comes from a walnut-sized gland called the prostate that sits just below the bladder. For reasons not fully understood, as men age the prostate becomes increasingly susceptible to cancer. It is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men, and according to the American Cancer Society, it will put one in six men at risk at some point in their life. Behind lung cancer, prostate cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among men.

But the good news is that prostate cancer is also one of the most treatable forms of cancer, according to BMH urologist Craig Rinder, MD. “Caught early, the survival rate for prostate cancer can be nearly 100%. However, because symptoms are often nonexistent, many men never find out they have the disease until it’s too late. That’s why early detection is key and regular screenings are important.”

The tests will include a PSA blood test and a digital rectal exam (DRE). To be eligible for this screening, the patient must meet the following criteria: patient must be 40-70 years old, and not have had a PSA blood test for more than one year.

Individuals must pre-register for this screening by 5:00 p.m. on September 24th. To register, call 802-251-8425. Appointments are limited and are offered on a first come, first serve basis for those men who meet the eligibility requirements.