PCEC Encourages Men Across America To Have A Baseline Prostate Health Assessment During 24th Annual Prostate Cancer Awareness Week

DENVER, Sept. 16, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men, but it is easily treated when caught early - the problem is that too often it is not. That is why the Prostate Conditions Education Council (PCEC), – a national organization committed to men's health and a leader in prostate cancer screening –  is sponsoring its 24^th Annual Prostate Cancer Awareness Week (PCAW) from September 15-21. 

Committed to encouraging men to take a more proactive role in protecting their health, PCEC has coordinated hundreds of sites across the country to offer free or low cost prostate health assessments during Prostate Cancer Awareness Week.  PCEC recommends that men should have a baseline PSA and rectal digital examination test at age 40 and then work with their physicians to determine what is the appropriate interval is to repeat both tests.  Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test and Digital Rectal Exam (DRE) remain the safest routes to detecting the disease in its earliest stages – when it's most treatable.  

"What many men do not realize is that prostate cancer if caught early can most often be very successfully treated," said Wendy Poage, President of the PCEC. "Men should not avoid the topic no matter how uncomfortable it makes them.  Knowledge is power and by avoiding medical tests, they are only doing a disservice to themselves and their loved ones. Simple tests like Cholesterol, PSA, testosterone and the DRE are valuable tools in assessing men's health and risk for many of the biggest risk factors especially prostate cancer."

During PCAW, men are offered a baseline PSA blood test and a DRE administered by a trained professional.  PCAW screening sites are also equipped with a variety of free informational materials that will help guide men in improving their overall health condition. Many screening locations also offer testing for cholesterol and testosterone, as many factors play into overall men's health awareness and a man's risk for prostate cancer. 

Men (and their female family members and friends who want to encourage them to be tested) can find the sites by visiting http://www.prostateconditions.org/screening-site or calling 866-4PROST8.

"During the past 24 years, PCEC helped to screen more than 5 million men for prostate cancer in the United States and internationally," said Wendy Poage.  "Our commitment to educating men and raising awareness for the importance of diagnosing prostate cancer early continues to expand each year and will continue to do so." 

About Prostate Cancer Awareness Week
The Prostate Conditions Education Council organizes hundreds of free or low-cost screening sites annually for more than 125,000 men across the United States and internationally.  To date, the program has resulted in nearly 5 million screenings.  To find a PCAW screening site near you and for more information on prostate cancer, please visit http://www.prostateconditions.org/screening-site or call toll free 866-4PROST8.  You can also join in the conversation by searching for the Prostate Conditions Education Council on Facebook or 4prost8health on Twitter. 

About Prostate Conditions Education Council
A national organization committed to men's health, the Prostate Conditions Education Council (PCEC) is the nation's leading resource for information on prostate health.  The PCEC is dedicated to saving lives through awareness and the education of men, the women in their lives, as well as the medical community about prostate cancer prevalence, the importance of early detection, and available treatment options, as well as other men's health issues.  The Council – comprised of a consortium of leading physicians, health educators, scientists and prostate cancer advocates – aims to conduct nationwide screenings for men and perform research that will aid in the detection and treatment of prostate conditions.  More information is available at www.prostateconditions.org. 

SOURCE Prostate Conditions Education Council