Community Care Physicians PC Opens The Prostate Center to Provide Free Prostate Screenings for At Risk Men

LATHAM, NY (03/01/2011)(readMedia)-- Community Care Physicians, P.C., the largest multispecialty medical group in the Capital Region, announced the opening of its new office, The Prostate Center, designed to provide free prostate screenings for men living in the greater Capital Region. The Prostate Center at Community Care Physicians, PC, is located at the Capital Region Health Park, 713 Troy-Schenectady Road, Suite 124, Latham, NY. Men over the age of 40 can walk in or schedule an appointment for a free prostate cancer screening on Fridays from 8am to 4pm.

The Prostate Center of Community Care Physicians, PC provides men with a complete prostate cancer screening, including a prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test and a digital rectal exam (DRE) from either a urologist or physician assistant. After the exam, men will be mailed the results of their PSA and DRE. Those diagnosed with abnormal results will receive follow-up care options.

"Prostate cancer is a disease that still kills almost 30,000 men every year in the United States. The good news is that with early detection and more improved screening (i.e PCA3 – Prostate Cancer Gene 3), prostate cancer can be identified earlier." said Dr. Hugh Fisher, Director of Urologic Oncology, Division of Urology, Albany Medical Center and a Urologist of Community Care Physicians, P.C. "Since there are no early symptoms, regular testing remains the most effective way to discover the disease in its early and most treatable stage."

Annual screening starting at age 50 is recommended for men at average risk for prostate cancer. Men with a higher risk of prostate cancer (African American men, men with a family history of the disease, obese men), should be screened starting at age 45. If more than one risk factor is present, screening may start as early as age 40. Men with or without a physician can be screened at The Prostate Center of Community Care Physicians, PC.

The American Cancer Society recently modified their recommendations about prostate screening. Currently, the guidelines recommend that men make an informed decision with their doctor about whether to be tested for prostate cancer. The American Cancer Society believes that men should not be tested without learning about what we know and don't know about the risks and possible benefits of testing and treatment.

"Controversy over using PSA testing to screen for prostate cancer may confuse men and their loved ones," added Fisher. "The Prostate Center of Community Care Physicians, PC sees value in prostate cancer screenings. We urge men to speak with their doctor or someone at The Prostate Center about the benefits and limitations of screening. Speaking with a professional can help men remain aware of their options and determine the correct decision for screening and treatment if the results are positive."

There is a gap in the market when it comes to prostate cancer. Most screening programs in the Capital Region of NY focus on women's health, such as breast cancer and ovarian cancer. Furthermore, prostate cancer prevention services have often struggled with the reluctance of men to talk about their health and to seek help. In fact, women have a significant impact on the men in their lives seeking medical care. In an American Academy of Family Physicians survey, 92% of men wait at least a few days to see a doctor when they're sick or in pain. But, nearly 80% of men reported their spouse or significant other influences their decisions to go to the doctor.

Consequently, The Prostate Center of Community Care Physicians, PC also focuses on educating women about the risk factors, symptoms, and screening of prostate cancer so they can help encourage the man in their life to remain informed about the disease. Women and men also have similar timelines for screenings and at similar ages. Those at risk for prostate cancer are often spouses of those at risk for breast cancer. Engaging women in the education process can be beneficial to outcomes for men.

In the coming months, The Prostate Center of Community Care Physicians, PC, will work closely with area physicians, hospitals, health centers, civic and professional organizations and community service organizations to promote awareness of prostate cancer and encourage screening of at risk men. The staff of the Prostate Center of Community Care Physicians, PC can also arrange screenings for local employers if ten or more employees sign up and proper accommodations can be made on-site. The Prostate Center of Community Care Physicians, PC can also arrange for employees of local businesses to come to the Latham location for screenings after hours or on weekends.

Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed malignancy occurring in as many as 15% of men in the United States. The American Cancer Society's estimated that in 2010 there are about 217,730 new cases of prostate cancer and about 32,050 deaths from prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer found in American men, other than skin cancer. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men. (Lung cancer is the first.) One man in 6 will get prostate cancer during his lifetime. And one man in 36 will die of this disease. More than 2 million men in the United States who have had prostate cancer at some point are still alive today. The death rate for prostate cancer is going down, and the disease is being found earlier, too.

To schedule an appointment for a free prostate screening please call The Prostate Center of Community Care Physicians, PC at 518-640-6789. You can also schedule an appointment online by visiting www.theProstateCenter.org.

About Community Care Physicians, P.C.

Community Care Physicians, P.C. is a multi-specialty medical group with over 35 practices spanning Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga and Schenectady counties of the Capital Region. Community Care Physicians offers over 20 different specialty services, including Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Pediatric Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, ImageCare Medical Imaging, Image Guided Radiation Therapy, Interventional Radiology, General Surgery, Urology, Physical Therapy, Urgent Care, Walk-In Care, Laboratory, Audiology, Dermatology, Diabetes Education and Nutrition, Occupational Medicine, Business Care, Wellness, and Aesthetic Laser. For more information visit www.communitycare.com.

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Contact Alexis Musto, Marketing Manager at Community Care Physicians, PC, for more information about The Prostate Center of Community Care Physicians, PC by phone at 518-213-0322, by email at amusto@communitycare.com, or by fax at 518-782-3798.