GOSHEN- The Orange County Department of Health (OCDOH), in partnership with the Newburgh Armory, Mount Sinai Hospital, Cornerstone Family Healthcare, and Community Healing and Justice Initiative, will host a Sweetheart Screening for Prostate Cancer and Breast Cancer from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, February 14th at the Newburgh Armory Unity Center.
“This is more than just about cancer screening. This is an opportunity to come together, celebrate our relationships, and, perhaps, save a life with early detection,” Orange County Health Commissioner Dr. Alicia Pointer said. “Everyone should feel comfortable talking about cancer screening with the people they care about. Nothing says “I love you” like “Hey, have you asked your doctor about a mammogram?”
Dr. Pointer said that healthcare professionals at the event will utilize a blood test, which measures the level of a substance made by the prostate called prostate specific antigen (PSA). An elevated PSA can indicate prostate cancer, but other causes exist as well. Attendees will receive personalized education and get their results in about an hour. The screenings are free.
Healthcare providers will also be available to perform breast cancer screening exams for the first 20 attendees. There will be education and information about breast cancer screening for all guests.
According to the New York State Department of Health, prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in New York State, excluding skin cancer. Each year, almost 15,500 New Yorkers are diagnosed with prostate cancer and 1,700 die of the disease. It is estimated that one in seven men assigned male at birth will develop prostate cancer during their life.
Non-Hispanic Black men have the highest rates of prostate cancer incidence and mortality of any racial/ethnic group. In New York State, Black men are one and a half times more likely to get prostate cancer and almost twice as likely to die of the disease compared to White…
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