According to the Prostate Cancer Education Council, a non-profit coalition of physicians, health educators, scientists, and patients, prostate cancer is second only to skin cancer as the most common type of cancer among American men. Among men who have a family history of prostate cancer, chances of contracting the disease increase by 50 percent.
Doctors say the best way to beat prostate cancer is by detecting it at its earliest stage. Jeffrey S. Lamont, MD, Chief of Urology at Newton-Wellesley, states, “Early detection and treatment of prostate cancer can lead to complete recovery. If caught early, survival rates are 90 percent or higher.”
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Dr. Lamont recommends that men over the age of 40 should be screened annually. Screenings take about 10 minutes and include a prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test and a digital rectal exam (DRE) done by a trained professional. “Prostate examinations take only minutes,” says Dr. Lamont. “Men should make it a priority to get screened – an annual prostate exam can save a man’s life.”
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Appointments are required. To take advantage of the free screening at Newton-Wellesley, call 617-243-5900 or email carefinder@partners.org.
