Men over age 40 are at a high risk for prostate cancer but most rural residents aren’t being tested
One in seven Alberta men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. If detected early, the prognosis is good.
But if you’re a rural resident — and especially a farmer — the odds of an early diagnosis are not good.
“Lots of fellows in rural communities don’t see a physician and we can guarantee that they don’t see a physician annually,” said Sarah Geddes of the Prostate Cancer Centre in Calgary.
“In our pilot, we were absolutely amazed that 70 per cent of the men we tested had not had a PSA test ever. Of that number, a great number of them didn’t even have a family physician.”
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The low rate of testing prompted the centre to launch the Man Van, a mobile unit that offers free, on-the-spot testing for PSA (short for prostate specific antigen, an indicator of prostate cancer). In a pilot project last year, the van conducted 1,000 tests. It has been on the road in southern Alberta since May and will travel throughout the province over the next two years, stopping at rodeos, farm shows, and ag events to encourage men over age 40 to come in for a few minutes.
“Every time we have an opportunity to speak or be in a community testing, we’re building awareness about the fact that farmers need to come,” said Geddes. “We’re providing a simple, free blood test in their community and when we’re there, they need to come.”
Not being tested can be a tragic mistake.
“This is not a cancer where a man will have symptoms until it has progressed,” said Geddes. “We also know that in rural communities, men are much more likely to put off discomfort. If they’re combining, they’re not going to go see their doctor if they have back pain, and back pain is a symptom of advancing prostate cancer.”
The blood test takes about 10 minutes, and results are returned by mail, usually within a week. Each testing event costs about $3,000 and is supported with funding from Agrium, Bayer Crop Science, and Monsanto. Farmers can make donations through the centre’s Combines for Cures program. See www.prostatecancercentre.ca for more information on donations and the Man Van schedule.
