June is Men's Health Month, and one of the most serious health conditions affecting men is Prostate Cancer.One new case occurs almost every 3 minutes, and almost every 20 minutes someone's husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle or friend dies from this disease.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in men. Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in America, affecting 1 in 6 men.
Prostate cancer usually grows slowly and initially remains confined to the prostate gland, where it may not cause serious harm. While some types of prostate cancer grow slowly and may need minimal or no treatment, other types are aggressive and can spread quickly. It's important to get checked regularly. As the cancer grows, some men may urinate more often, having trouble starting the flow, or feeling a burning sensation. Some may have difficulty having an erection or feel pain or stiffness in the lower back or thighs. These symptoms may be due to other health problems, so it's important to get checked.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/prostate-cancer/ds00043
http://www.pcf.org/site/c.leJRIROrEpH/b.5800851/k.645A/Prostate_Cancer_F...

Male anatomyWhere is the prostate gland located?
The prostate gland is about the size of a walnut and surrounds the neck of a man's bladder and urethra - the tube that carries urine from the bladder. It is partly muscular and partly glandular, with ducts opening into the prostatic portion of the urethra. It is made up of three lobes: a center lobe with one lobe on each side.

What does the prostate gland do?
As part of the male reproductive system, the prostate gland's makes part of the seminal fluid, a fluid that carries sperm. During male climax (orgasm), the muscular glands of the prostate help to propel the seminal fluid, in addition to sperm that was produced in the testicles, into the urethra. The semen then leaves the body out through the tip of the penis during ejaculation.
http://medicalcenter.osu.edu/patientcare/healthcare_services/prostate_he...

How is prostate cancer detected/diagnosed?
Early prostate cancer usually causes no symptoms and is most often found by a blood test (PSA) and/or by an examination (digital rectal exam or DRE). Some advanced prostate cancers can slow or weaken your urinary stream or make you need to urinate more often. But non-cancerous diseases of the prostate, such as BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) cause these symptoms more often.
If the prostate cancer is advanced, you might have blood in your urine or trouble getting an erection (impotence). Advanced prostate cancer commonly spreads to the bones, which can cause pain in the hips, spine, ribs, or other areas. Cancer that has spread to the spine can also press on the spinal nerves, which can result in weakness or numbness in the legs or feet, or even loss of bladder or bowel control.

If certain symptoms or the results of early detection tests -- the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test and/or digital rectal exam (DRE) -- suggest that you might have prostate cancer, your doctor will do a prostate biopsy to find out if the disease is present. There are many treatment options which can help men live healthy and productive lives, if the disease is caught early.
Other diseases can also cause many of these same symptoms. It is important to tell your doctor if you have any of these problems, so that the cause can be found and treated.

http://209.135.47.118/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_3X_How_is_prostate_can...

Who gets prostate cancer?
According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer occurs more often in African-American men than in men of other races. African-American men are also more likely to be diagnosed at an advanced stage, and are more than twice as likely to die of prostate cancer as white men. Prostate cancer occurs less often in Asian-American and Hispanic/Latino men than in non-Hispanic whites. The reasons for these racial and ethnic differences are not clear.
Prostate cancer is most common in North America, northwestern Europe, Australia, and on Caribbean islands. It is less common in Asia, Africa, Central America, and South America. The reasons for this are not clear. More intensive screening in some developed countries likely accounts for at least part of this difference, but other factors are likely to be important as well. For example, lifestyle differences (diet, etc.) may be important: men of Asian descent living in the United States have a lower risk of prostate cancer than white Americans, but their risk is higher than that of men of similar backgrounds living in Asia.
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_2x_what_are_the_risk_f...

Why are some men embarrassed to be tested?

Some men are embarrassed or concerned about having a digital rectal exam (DRE) to determine the size of prostate gland and if there are any hard lumps on its surface that might indicated cancer. This is why the blood (PSA) test is a helpful initial screen. However, a DRE may still be indicated at some point. While it may uncomfortable, it may help detect a cancer that can be treated and cured if caught early. The alternative, avoiding testing and having the cancer spread, may create more difficulties later on.

Winterich JA, et al. Masculinity and the body: how African American and White men experience cancer screening involving the rectum. Am J Mens Health . 2024:3:300-309

Where can I get a free blood test to see if I might be at risk for prostate cancer?

As part of the Man Up Monday initiative developed by the Healthy Monday Campaigns (www.healthymonday.org) and the Harlem Health Promotion Center (www.GetHealthyHarlem.org), we encourage men to learn the facts about prostate cancer and this Monday make arrangements to get tested. To make testing easier, The Daily News is sponsoring events from June 20-June 27, which offer free blood tests. See the list below for a screening site near you. Beat the clock! Get tested! Get referred! Get treated!

Screening Locations NYC

Manhattan- Harlem
Harlem Hospital
Mobile Health Unit
142nd Street
(bet. Lenox Ave. & Chisum Place)
At Real Men Cook
Sunday, June 20, 2:00pm - 5:00pm

Harlem Hospital
Ronald H. Brown Ambulatory
Care Pavilion
2nd flr.
530 West 137th Street,
(bet. Lenox & Fifth Avenues)
Thursday, June 24, 12:00pm - 4:00pm
Adam Clayton Powell State
Office Bldg.
163 West 125th Street
New York, NY
Monday, June 21, 9:00am - 2:00pm
Wednesday, June 23, 9:00am - 2:00pm
Friday, June 25, 9:00am - 2:00pm

Manhattan - Eastside
NYU CLINIC AL CANCER CEN TER
160 East 34th Street
(between Lexington and Third Avenues)
Monday, June 21, 5:00pm - 8:00pm
Tuesday, June 22, 5:00pm - 8:00pm
Wednesday, June 23, 5:00pm - 8:00pm
Thursday, June 24, 5:00pm- 8:00pm
Saturday, June 26, 9:00am - 1:00pm
Sunday, June 27, 12:00pm - 4:00pm

NYU Langone Medical Center
Farkas Auditorium
550 First Avenue at 31st Street
Tuesday, June 22, 10:00am - 3:00pm

Manhattan -Westside
McBurney YMCA
(front of building)
125 West 14th Street
Friday, June 25, 9:00am to 3:00pm

Daily News Building
Lower Level
450 West 33rd Street
New York, NY
Monday, June 21, 10:00am - 3:00pm
Thursday, June 24, 10:00am - 3:00pm

Manhattan -Downtown
NYU Langone Trinity Center
111 Broadway, 2nd Floor
(one block north of Wall St.)
Wednesday, June 23, 3:00pm - 7:00pm
Friday, June 25, 10:00am - 3:00pm
Photo ID required for entry into building

Queens- Forest Hills/Rego Park
NYU Langone
Columbus Medical
97-77 Queens Boulevard
Thursday, June 24, 4:00pm - 8:00pm
Sunday, June 27, 10:00am - 2:00pm

Forest Hills Hospital
2nd floor Clinic
102-01 66th Road
Forest Hills, NY
Wednesday, June 23, 1:00pm - 3:00pm

Specialty Medical Center at
Forest Hills
Suite 502
68-60 Austin Street
Forest Hills, NY
Saturday, June 26, 2:00pm - 6:00pm

Queens-Bayside
Sacred Heart R.C. Church
215-35 38th Avenue
Bayside, NY
Friday, June 25, 10:00am - 2:00pm

Queens-
Queens Borough Hall
(front of building)
120-55 Queens Boulevard
Thursday, June 24, 9:00am to 5:00pm

Bronx -
Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center
1650 Grand Concourse
Main Entrance
Thursday, June 24, 9:00am - 3:00pm

P.C. Richard & Son
Bay Plaza, (parking lot)
356 Baychester Avenue
Monday, June 21, 12:00pm to 7:00pm
Tuesday, June 22, 12:00pm to 7:00pm

MMC- Moses Division
Goldzone, 1st floor - Ambulatory
Oncology
111 East 210th St.
Monday, June 21, 4:00pm-7:00pm
Wednesday June 23, 4:00pm-7:00pm
Friday, June 25, 4:00pm-7:00pm

Center for Cancer Care
1521 Jarret Place, 1st floor
Monday, June 21, 1:00pm - 5:00pm

Brooklyn
Kingsbrook Jewish
Medical Center
Clinic E - 585 Schenectady Avenue
Monday, June 21, 10:00am - 4:00pm
Tuesday, June 22, 10:00am - 4:00pm
Wednesday, June 23, 10:00am - 4:00pm
Thursday, June 24, 10:00am - 4:00pm
Friday, June 25, 10:00am - 4:00pm

Pierre Toussaint Family
Health Center - 1110 Eastern Parkway
Monday, June 21, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Tuesday, June 22, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Wednesday, June 23, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Thursday, June 24, 1:00pm - 6:00pm
Friday, June 25, 1:00pm - 4:00pm

Staten Island
The Nalitt Cancer Center
256C Mason Avenue
Staten Island, NY
Tuesday, June 22, 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Staten Island University \Hospital
Bay Street Health Center
57 Bay Street
Staten Island, NY
Wednesday, June 23, 3:00pm - 7:00pm

Staten Island University
Hospital
Heart Tower -
Radiation Oncology
475 Seaview Avenue
Staten Island, NY
Thursday, June 24, 1:00pm - 4:00pm

Staten Island Yankees
Richmond County Bank Ballpark
75 Richmond Terrace
Wednesday, June 23, 3:00pm to 8:00pm