Free prostate screenings offered

Men won't have to bend over backwards to find free access to prostate exams.

UNC Health Care urologists will provide free prostate cancer screenings today and Thursday to aid in the battle against the second-leading cause of cancer deaths nationwide.

The annual screening program, now in its 12th year, will provide walk-in appointments to the public from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., though hospital officials encourage appointments. The exams will be held at UNC Hospitals' Urology Clinic, located on the second floor of N.C. Memorial Hospital.

The screening involves both a blood test and a physical exam, said David Collins, administrative manager for the Division of Urology.

Last year 376 men took part in the screenings. Out of that number, 34 tests came back abnormal, according to a UNC Health Care press release.

Collins said the screening, which lasts 20 minutes, is especially helpful for the community at large.

"One, it is open to the public, not just UNC or hospital employees, and two, this is free," he said. "And if you park in the visitors parking deck, we'll give you a one-hour get-out-of-deck-free pass."

The target populations for the tests are all black men over 40, white men over 40 with a family history of the disease and all white men over 50, said Raj Pruthi, director of Urologic Oncology for the Division of Urology.

Pruthi said the disease is particularly prevalent among black North Carolinians.

"Caucasian Americans have a high risk of developing prostate cancer," Pruthi said. "But African Americans have even a higher risk, and African Americans who live in North Carolina actually have one of the highest risks of any population in the world."

Collins said that in the past, it had been difficult to get men in for screenings, but he has seen perceptions beginning to shift.

"Over the last 10 years we've seen a small but steady increase in men coming to see their doctors," he said. "I feel like there's been an increased media push for men to see their doctors on a variety of health issues."

Pruthi said he has seen a change in attitudes about prostate cancer.

"In days in the past, it was a taboo issue," he said, noting that now men are discussing it among themselves and with women.

The exams help detect cancer earlier, Pruthi said, which saves lives.

"Screening does not change whether you have it or not," he said. "But it does allow us to come to a diagnosis earlier rather then later."

The screenings at UNC are made possible by donated time from Division of Urology physicians, reduced lab fees at UNC Hospitals and donated supplies from pharmaceutical companies, Collins said.

"Our mission here is health care, whether it be patient education, preventative health care, or active intervention," Pruthi said. "All three of those are the primary mission of the School of Medicine, UNC Hospitals and every doctor here."

 

Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.