By Troy Gillard (Twitter: @Troy_Gillard)

Man Van providing free cancer screenings Friday in Red Deer

Jun 13, 2018 | 1:29 PM

The Man Van will be in Red Deer at London Drugs (2004 – 50 Avenue) this Friday between noon – 3 p.m. offering baseline PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) blood tests to men over the age of 40 and Blood Pressure, Blood Glucose and Waist Circumference measurement to all men over 18.

The Prostate Cancer Centre is offering the services of the Man Van to the community, free of charge. No appointment is necessary.

The PSA test is a simple blood test that helps in the early detection of prostate cancer. PSA is a protein produced by the prostate and released in small amounts to the bloodstream. The amount of PSA in the bloodstream can often predict a man’s risk of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is the leading cancer in Albertan men. One man in seven will develop prostate cancer in his lifetime. Approximately 2600 men will be diagnosed annually with prostate cancer and 8 men will die from it every week. 

A report released Wednesday by the Canadian Cancer Society says almost half of the colorectal cancers in Canada are discovered after they’ve already spread – 29 per cent are diagnosed at stage 3, and 20 per cent are diagnosed at stage 4.

Canadians aged 50 to 74 years of age, about one third of the population, should be screened every two years, but researchers found less than 60 per cent of the people eligible are doing so.

project will take one year

Construction activity to start on hospital parkade expansion

17h ago

Red Deer man charged after police locate stolen vehicle

17h ago

City and County to collaborate on regional economic development with NRED grant

20h ago

For more information on the Man Van, visit www.getchecked.ca.