<P>My father was diagnosed with prostate cancer just over a year ago. It was discovered in the very early stages through a routine blood test - physical exams didn't detect anything. After weighing several options, including a type of radiation and surgery, he decided to go with surgery. He was in the hospital for one day and poof! No more prostate cancer. He has been cancer-free for a year now and is in excellent health.</P>
<P>My grandfather has had prostate cancer - he has lived with it without surgery because he's in his 80's - and now my father has had it. Because of the family history of the illness, my father's two brothers and his son (my brother) are now at high risk. I've made my brother promise that he'll get checked regularly.</P>
<P>This is an easy thing to take care of if you catch it early. See your doctor regularly!</P>
<P>Sarah<BR><BR>----- Original Message -----<BR>From: "Stephen J Gewirtz" <GEWIRTZ@BELLATLANTIC.NET><BR>To: "Charles Village Discussion List" <DISCUSSION@CHARLESVILLAGE.INFO>, "Chat list" <CHAT@CHARLESVILLAGE.INFO><BR>Subject: [Chat] Prostate cancer screening<BR>Date: Wed, 08 Jun 2005 08:24:46 -0400<BR><BR>I see in today's Sun that free screening for prostate cancer is available tomorrow and Friday. Prostate cancer in men is now as common as breast cancer is in women. I assume that what is offered is a PSA (prostate specific antigen) blood test and a digital rectal exam (the physician will cover his finger with a latex glove that has vaseline on it, and he will stick his finger in your rear end to feel your prostate to see if it is abnormally enlarged). The DRE is not pleasant, but it is necessary to detect prostate cancer.<BR><BR>As a survivor of prostate cancer who was treated at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, I urge all men over 40 in the neighborhood who have not been screened within the last year by their own physicians to take advantage of this opportunity. My cancer was caught by my internist in my annual physical.<BR><BR>Prostate cancer is very treatable if detected early, and you can live for a long time after treatment. In many cases, if the cancer is sufficiently non-aggressive, it need only be watched until and unless it turns aggressive. But if it is more aggressive (as mine was), it needs to be treated by radiation or by surgery. I was told that I could probably go about 10 years without problems if it was not treated; since I expect to be around for a lot longer than 10 more years, I got radiation treatment.<BR><BR>If the screening does show the likelihood of prostate cancer, you will need a biopsy to determine whether the cancer is actually present and if so, in how aggressive a form it is present. From that point, you can see about treatment.<BR><BR>Steve.<BR><BR></P>
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<H1>Prostate cancer screenings available</H1>
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<P>Doctors are offering free screenings for prostate cancer from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. tomorrow and Friday in a mobile lab outside the Safeway at 2401 N. Charles St. </P>
<P>The "Do it for Dad" drive against prostate cancer is sponsored by the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, the National Prostate Cancer Coalition and the Family Health Center of Baltimore. </P>
<P>Doctors will conduct the two-part testing inside a 39-foot-long Airstream Land Yacht XL. It will include a blood test and a physical exam. Maryland ranks 10th in the nation in incidence of prostate cancer and in mortality. </P>
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Sarah Andrew Wilson
www.phloot.com
www.monkinstitute.org
c 202.680.2420
w 202.364.7272</PRE><BR>