Riverside to host free prostate cancer screening

September is prostate cancer awareness month and as an ongoing commitment to caring for the community, Riverside is hosting four free prostate cancer screenings around Hampton Roads and the Eastern Shore. Prostate screenings for men remain incredibly important for catching and treating prostate cancer early, when it is the most curable.

Free screenings are by appointment only. Participants may call 1-800-520-7006 to register for their appointment. The screening at Riverside in Onley is scheduled for September 18.

An estimated one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime, and that rate increases to one in six among African American men. Family history, genetics, ethnicity, lifestyle and age can all impact your risk for developing prostate cancer. Age plays a larger role in risk, with an estimate six in ten cases being diagnosed in men 65 and older. In many cases, prostate cancer doesn’t cause any symptoms until the disease process is in its later stages, so annual screenings exams are critical to diagnosing early.

“We encourage all men to talk to their providers about their individual risk factors for developing prostate cancer, such as age, family history or genetics, to help determine when screening is right for them,” says Mary Cleckler, prostate cancer nurse navigator, with the Riverside Cancer Care Network. “Our goal is to encourage patients to take proactive steps to maintain their health and wellness for years to come.”