September marks Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and to honor this occasion, Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett, Tennessee Men’s Health Network (TMHN), and CAC’s Office on Aging are hosting a free prostate cancer screening on September 29 from 1-4 p.m. at Knoxville-Knox County CAC L.T. Ross Building, 2247 Western Avenue, Knoxville TN 37921.
Prostate cancer is one of the most common and deadliest forms of cancer among men. The American Cancer Society estimates that this year 180,890 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and around 26,000 will die from the disease. However, if detected in an early stage, prostate cancer can be 100% treatable.
“Everyone knows someone who has been touched by prostate cancer”, says Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett. “With September recognized as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month I felt this is the perfect time to host this free prostate cancer screening for those that may not have resources or access to a healthcare provider. It is important for men and women to get cancer screenings because early detection can save your life.”
Mike Leventhal, Executive Director of Tennessee Men’s Health Network was pleased to assist Mayor Burchett with this event that will draw around 100 men from around Knoxville/Knox County.
“TMHN has years of experience hosting health screenings within communities across the state but we wanted to reach out to other community-based agencies to enhance this health screening that is just for the guys,” explains Leventhal. “Being able to collaborate with CAC’s Office on Aging was important because of their strong community relationships and staff expertise in hosting similar events. All of us are excited about offering this service to those who need it the most.”
“We at the CAC Office on Aging know that as men grow older, the chance of their developing prostate cancer increases,” said Susan Long, director of the Office on Aging. “As Mike said, the sooner that prostate cancer is diagnosed and treated, the better the outcome will be. We encourage the older men whom we serve, as well as men of any age in our community, to come to the L.T. Ross Building on September 29th to get this simple test to not only protect themselves but also to continue to be here for their loved ones.”
Tennessee Men’s Health Network (TMHN) is an affiliate of Men’s Health Network headquartered in Washington, D.C. TMHN is a nonprofit educational organization comprised of physicians, researchers, public health workers, individuals and other health professionals. TMHN is committed to improving the health and wellness of boys and men through educational campaigns, data collection and work with health providers to provide better programs and funding on men’s health needs. Additional questions or comments should be referred to info@menshealthnetwork.org or by calling (865)406-0120.
