Published: August 30, 2008 02:32 am      

Floyd Memorial offering free prostate screenings

Bob Beck knows exactly what to tell men who may be a bit squeamish about participating in a free prostate cancer screening at Floyd Memorial Hospital and Health Services.

“It saved my life,” Beck said.

For the 18th year, the hospital will offer the prostate screening beginning at 6:30 a.m. Sept. 28. The screening consists of both a PSA blood test and a digital rectal exam.

Last year, doctors tested 820 men, and 17 cases of cancer were detected. Dr. Dan Eichenberger said anywhere from eight to 14 physicians participate in the event.

“The support staff at the hospital has it down to a science,” he said.

“It takes very little time.”

“Probably from the time I registered, to the time I walked out, it was 25 minutes,” Beck said.

Eichenberger said doctors usually have everyone in and out in two hours. The hospital not only provides the test, but free coffee and doughnuts will also be provided to those waiting to be tested.

According to a hospital release, when prostate cancer is detected early, the five-year survival rate is nearly 100 percent. Prostate cancer has very few symptoms in its early stages.

A man has a one in six chance of being diagnosed at some point in his lifetime. It is recommended for men 50 and older to be tested yearly or those who are 40 and older who have a family history of prostate cancer.

“This year, 186,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and 28,000 will die. That is why the screening is so important,” Eichenberger said. “Most prostate cancer is not the cause of death in men. They usually die from something else.

“But you don’t know who will have the aggressive form of cancer so that is why early detection is the key.”

Beck, 60, said his cancer was detected at the screening in 2006. On Jan. 5, 2007, he had a daVinci Prostatectomy procedure to remove his cancerous gland. He said he is now cancer-free. He also said he had no pain and there was no sign of cancer before his test in 2006.

“My PSA went up a whole point from the previous year ... that was the only sign,” he said.

Now, he is a cheerleader for the test.

“Anyone who ask I tell them to sign up,” he said. “I got my brother-in-law to go last year for the first time.”