Free Prostate Screenings

by Press Release

Free Prostate Screenings to Take Place at Cancer Center at Renaissance San Benito

San Benito, TX-Cancer Center at Renaissance is excited to announce free prostate screenings for men under the age of 75! The screenings will take place at the Cancer Center at Renaissance San Benito on Saturday, January 15, 2011 and Saturday, January 29, 2011 from 8:00 AM until 12:00 PM.

The prostate screening includes a PSA, or prostate-specific antigen, test that requires a small sample of blood. Dr. Manuel Espinosa and Dr. Oscar Garcia will also be on-site to perform digital rectal exams. Digital rectal exams and PSA tests will be offered for free.

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.

PSA is an enzyme made by the prostate that helps liquefy semen. Testing the amount of PSA circulating in the bloodstream can identify prostate cancer while still confined to the gland. It' is normal for a small amount of PSA to be found in the blood, and as men age the normal level of PSA may increase slightly, which is why physicians now use an age-adjusted scale in PSA testing.

All men are at risk. The most common risk factor is age. More than 70 percent of men diagnosed with prostate cancer each year are over the age of 65. African American men have a higher risk of prostate cancer than white men. Dramatic differences in the incidence of prostate cancer are also seen in different countries, and there is some evidence that a diet higher in fat, especially animal fat, may account for some of these differences. Genetic factors also appear to play a role, particularly for families in whom the diagnosis is made in men under 60 years of age. The risk of prostate cancer rises with the number of close relatives who have the disease.

Prostate cancer often does not cause symptoms for many years. By the time symptoms occur, the disease may have spread beyond the prostate. When symptoms do occur, they may include frequent urination, (especially at night), inability to urinate, trouble starting or holding back urination, a weak or interrupted flow of urine, painful or burning urination, blood in the urine or semen, painful ejaculation, and/or frequent pain in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs. These can be symptoms of cancer, but more often they are symptoms of noncancerous conditions. It is important to check with a doctor.

But the good news is that prostate cancer is also one of the most treatable forms of cancer, according Sandra Yanez, Director of Radiation Oncology at DHR. Caught early, the survival rate for prostate cancer is 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 essential and regular screenings are important.

We encourage you to tell the men in your life about the free prostate screening opportunities at Cancer Center at Renaissance San Benito. The screenings will take place on Saturday, January 15, 2011 and Saturday, January 29, 2011 from 8:00 AM until 12:00 PM. For more information, please call 956-399-4791 Cancer Center at Renaissance San Benito is located at 1401 W. Expressway 83 in San Benito, Texas.

Doctors Hospital at Renaissance continues to be the premier healthcare provider in South Texas. For more information, please call Doctors Hospital at Renaissance at (956) 362-7555 or visit our website at www.dhr-rgv.com.

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World-Class Healthcare, Here at Home.


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KELLI K. OWEN
Media Relations Coordinator
Doctors Hospital at Renaissance
Cell. (956) 566-7335
Office. (956) 362-3102
Fax. (956) 362-3112
www.dhr-rgv.com

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined. -Henry David Thoreau


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