Screenings for prostate cancer offered in McHenry County

Submitted by McHenry County Department of Health

In recognition of Men's Health Month, McHenry County Department of Health has scheduled a screening for McHenry County residents at risk for prostate cancer. Through a grant from the Illinois Department of Public Health, the PSA blood test is being offered, at no cost, to men age 50 and older and those 40 years of age and older who are at higher risk due to family history.

Appointments for this 15-minute test are being scheduled from 7:30 to 11 a.m. Thursday, June 28, at MCDH's Woodstock office, 2200 N. Seminary Ave., Building A. Registration is required at (815) 334-4536.

During Men's Health Month, MCDH encourages residents to take responsibility for safeguarding their health through regular checkups and screenings. The PSA is but one tool in assessing men's overall health. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men and the second leading cause of death, after lung cancer. Risk factors for prostate cancer increase as you age and also include race (African American, Hispanic have high risk factor), and family history (greater risk if father, brother or son has had prostate cancer).

Symptoms can be different for every man — pain or difficulty urinating, frequent urinating, blood in urine, pain in back/hips/pelvis that doesn't go away; some men have no symptoms at all. Early education to reduce your risk includes eating healthy, exercising and quit smoking.

For more information about prostate health, visit www.cdc.gov/Features/ProstateCancer/ or call MCDH at (815) 334-4510. Get the latest news from MCDH on Facebook and Twitter www.twitter.com/mchenrycohealth.