Man Van encourages men to get tested for prostate cancer
The Prostate Cancer Centre of Calgary deployed its Man Van in Medicine Hat Saturday so local men could get checked for prostate cancer.
The van is the first of its kind and travels to different communities around Alberta with nurses that can help men get their blood taken to test for prostate cancer, said volunteer Martin Nowakowski.
“We do these visits to different places because it is so important for men to get checked for prostate cancer,” he said. “The test is a very simple blood test, it takes a few minutes of your time and you’re back on with your day. We hope to see a huge lineup of people here today.”
Nowakowski said the blood is taken back to a lab in Calgary where it is examined for a certain protein emitted by the prostate that shows up in men’s blood streams. Once the protein is located, it can be tested to see if there are cancerous cells within it. He said he encourages men to get tested at least once each year.
“Whether it is booking a physical or doing something like this, getting checked for prostate cancer is very important,” he said. “Just like most other types of cancer, prostate cancer is very aggressive and does not give much time before it can be really bad. Dealing with it as quickly as possible is the best way to fight it.”
London Drugs store manager Greg Whelpley said he really believes in what the people at the Man Van are trying to do, which is why he got the group to come out for the Saturday afternoon.
“This is just a really great initiative,” he said. “Not only does this help men get good and fast results, but it helps spread some education as well.”