At Fans for the Cure, we know that for most cases detected early, prostate cancer is a highly survivable disease. In fact, current studies are reporting 5-year relative survivability rates for prostate cancer as high as 99%. That said, prostate cancer will claim the lives of an estimated 35,250 men in 2024 in the United States alone. And over 90% of all cases will be diagnosed with no symptoms. This is why one of our charity’s core activities is to regularly join with our team of healthcare partners to regularly organize and conduct free PSA screenings.
Note – the PSA screening is a simple blood draw to measure the amount of prostate-specific antigen in the bloodstream. It is increasingly rare these days that a digital rectal exam (DRE) is included in the initial diagnostic process for prostate cancer. The current gold standard for diagnosis is the PSA blood test.
When to Get Tested For Prostate Cancer
For men to have access to the widest range of treatment options and to achieve the most favorable outcomes with prostate cancer, it is important that the disease be diagnosed in its earliest and localized stages. We recommend that you begin discussions about prostate cancer testing with your primary care physician at age 40.
The American Cancer Society recommends the following updated schedule for men who are considering their first PSA blood tests for prostate cancer:
- Ages 50-69 if at average risk for the disease
- Age 40-45 if African-American
- Age 40 when with at least one first-degree relative (father, brother, or son) has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Raising Awareness about PSA Screenings and Prostate Cancer Testing
A key component of our work entails raising awareness about prostate cancer and the importance of baseline and follow-up testing. Modern medicine has made initial screenings and tests for prostate cancer far more convenient, less invasive, and more reliable than ever before.
Our approach is to not only go where men come together (at sporting events, for example), but also to invite men to attend seminars and information sessions to share up-to-date and reliable medical information, as well as to answer questions and dispel myths about all aspects of prostate cancer.
Bringing Prostate Cancer Screenings to Men Who are Most At-Risk
As prostate cancer treatments achieve best outcomes when the disease is detected early, we work diligently to bring PSA screenings, medical professionals, and educational materials to where men gather – at community events, barber shops, churches, athletic fields, sports stadiums, and offices of major employers.
Since its inception in 2003, Fans for the Cure has continued its initiative of pushing for more onsite PSA testing, which our charity has worked hard to coordinate with local healthcare providers and community leaders.
Working with our medical partners, MLB, and several teams, we broke our charity’s records for most stadium screenings during the 2023 season. With the addition of the Seattle Mariners (September 10), we hope to break the record again in 2024.
