CITYWIDE PROSTATE CANCER SCREENINGS IN SEPTEMBER FOR "PROSTATE CANCER AWARENESS MONTH"

Program Developed in Response to Needs of Vulnerable Communities; African-American Males Have World's Highest Rate of Prostate Cancer

Responding to the needs of at-risk communities, the NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) has declared September "Prostate Cancer Awareness Month." This month-long education and evaluation effort will feature Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) blood tests to screen for prostate cancer at locations throughout the five boroughs. Screenings will be provided at no cost to participants.

The cancer screening effort is targeted toward all New York City males, but places a particular focus on reaching African American men, who have the world's highest incidence of prostate cancer. Current statistics show that one in four African American males will develop prostate cancer, a rate 60% higher than the general population.

"HHC has made a major commitment to provide cancer screening as one way to respond to the serious health care needs of the communities we serve," notes Dr. Benjamin Chu, President, NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation. "Given that prostate cancer is the most common form of new cancer in men, and the second leading cause of cancer death among men - and that early detection results in a survival rate that can reach 98% -- we believe that many lives can be saved through Prostate Cancer Awareness Month."

Current guidelines call for all men over 50 to be tested once a year, and for high risk males - including all African Americans - to be tested annually after age 40. The Prostate-Specific Antigen Test (PSA) is a simple, painless blood test that is able to detect many prostate cancers in at-risk men.

HHC will also support increased efforts for breast, cervical and colon cancer detection in 2003

PSA screenings for prostate cancer will be given at the following locations:

Segundo Ruiz Diagnostic and Treatment Center - "Men's Health Week" - September 23rd -26th, 2002, 545 East 142nd Street (Corner of St. Ann's Avenue), Bronx, NY - For more information call (718) 579-1825

Cumberland Diagnostic and Treatment Center - Prostate Cancer Screening and Awareness - on September 25th, 2003, from 10am - 2 pm

Elmhurst Hospital - September 16, 1 to 5 pm, September 18, 1 to 7 pm. For more information, call (718)-334-2965.

Lincoln Hospital - Adult Medicine Clinic, 9/16 - 9/19 - For an appointment, please call (718) 579-5550

Coney Island Hospital - Thursday, October 16th, 2003 in the facility's main lobby, from 10am to 4pm

Woodhull Hospital - Woodhull Hospital offers the "Man to Man" Support group the second Wednesday of every month from 5:30 to 7:30, on the 3rd floor, Conference Room 4. Prostate screenings will be offered throughout the month.