August 29, 2007

Mercy Plans Sept. 11 Prostate Screening

Mercy Medical Center—Sioux City encourages Siouxland area men to make an appointment for a prostate screening on Tuesday, Sept. 11 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the June E. Nylen Cancer Center.

“One in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime,” explained Barb Flynn, community education coordinator at Mercy. “Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer, other than skin cancer, among men in the United States, and it is second only to lung cancer as a cause of cancer-related death among men. That is why we encourage men to take part in this screening.”

According to the American Cancer Society, about 70% of all diagnosed prostate cancers are found in men aged 65 years or older. The prostate cancer death rate is higher for African-American men than for any other racial or ethnic group.

Thanks mostly to more proactive education and screening efforts, the survival rate for prostate cancer has increased from 67% to 97% during the past 20 years.

Mercy’s screening on Sept. 11 will include a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test and a digital examination of the prostate by a urologist from Siouxland Urology Associates, P.C. in Dakota Dunes.

Appointments are necessary for the screening, and may be arranged by calling Mercy at (712) 279-2995. The cost is $15.