Centegra Health offering prostate screenings in McHenry
Submitted by Centegra Health System
Centegra Health System is once again joining a national campaign to alert men about the dangers of prostate cancer. On Saturday, Sept. 10, the Centegra Sage Cancer Center, in cooperation with Centegra Health System affiliated urologists and the Prostate Conditions Education Council, will offer prostate cancer screenings in recognition of Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.
The screenings will take place from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at the Centegra Sage Cancer Center at Centegra Hospital-McHenry. Cost is $20 and includes a clinical rectal exam provided by a physician and a PSA blood test. An appointment is required. Call (877) CENTEGRA (877) 236-8347 to register.
“It’s disheartening to think how many lives could be saved if only more men would get screened for prostate cancer,” said Dr. Brian Keuer, urologist. “In 2010, more than 217,700 men in the United States were diagnosed with prostate cancer. This year, prostate cancer is expected to claim the lives of more than 32,000 American men. That is just too many for a disease that is often treatable when caught in its earliest stages.”
According to the National Cancer Institute, prostate cancer is the second most common type of cancer among men in the United States.
The screenings are intended for men age 50 or older with no present symptoms or history of prostate cancer, disease or surgery. Screenings are recommended at an earlier age for men with a family history of prostate cancer or African-Americans.
According to Keuer, common symptoms of prostate cancer include having difficulty passing urine, needing to urinate often, pain or burning during urination, blood in urine or semen, frequent pain in the thighs, hips and lower back. Keuer encourages men experiencing these symptoms to inform their physician.
A national organization committed to men’s health, the Prostate Conditions Education Council, formally the Prostate Cancer Education Council, is dedicated to saving lives through awareness and the education of men, the women in their lives, as well as the medical community about prostate cancer prevalence, the importance of early detection, and available treatment options, as well as other men’s health issues. The council is comprised of a consortium of leading physicians, health educators, scientists and prostate cancer advocates and aims to conduct nation wide screenings for men and perform research that will aid in the detection and treatment of prostate conditions. More information is available at www.prostateconditions.org.
The program and one-on-one consultations are offered in a conveniently located, nonclinical, fitness facility in Huntley to individuals who are interested in maintaining good prostate health or who have been impacted by prostate cancer. This program is jointly offered through a partnership with Wellness Place in Palatine, Centegra Health Bridge Fitness Center — Huntley and Centegra Sage Cancer Center.
Current program offerings, scheduled at Centegra Health Bridge Fitness Center — Huntley, on the first Thursday of the month, include “Sorting Through Omega 3/Omega 6, EPA/DHA, and FLAX Nutrition Issues” from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1.
Attendance at all lectures is not mandatory but is recommended. The community lectures and one-on-one consultations are offered at no charge. Call (877) CENTEGRA (236-8347) to preregister. Light refreshments will be served.
Centegra Health System and the Gavers Community Cancer Foundation partner year-round to raise awareness of the importance of early cancer detection. The Get Checked! program provides information on lifestyle changes and guidelines for routine screenings that can make a big difference in one’s life. The Gavers Cancer Resource Library is also featured in Centegra Sage Cancer Center in McHenry and offers touch-screen computers, a library inventory of books, journals and booklets. Information in the library is available in English and Spanish.