Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC (1888PressRelease)
September 11, 2008 - Donna Murray Lacey, Executive Director of The Charlotte Volunteers in Medicine Clinic will be offering free prostate cancer screenings to all men age 40 and older that reside in Mecklenburg County every Tuesday from 1pm - 4pm the month of September in honor of Prostate Cancer Awareness month at The Greenville Center.
The Prostate Cancer Education Council recommends that all men should have an annual screening for prostate cancer beginning at age 40. African-American men and men with a family history of prostate cancer may be at a higher risk, so early screening is important.
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men. There are more annual cases diagnosed in the U.S. than for breast cancer. The lack of symptoms makes it nearly impossible to detect without regular prostate screenings. In 2007 nearly 6,100 North Carolina men were diagnosed with the disease and an estimated 5,050 will be diagnosed this year - nearly a 16% decrease.
CVIM is dedicated to promoting education and awareness and is encouraging all males residing in Charlotte-Mecklenburg County age 40 and older (and as early as age 35 if there is family history of prostate cancer. i.e. father, brother, grandfather) to come out every Tuesday in September for a free health screening along with educational materials for prostate cancer treatment and prevention.
The Charlotte Volunteers in Medicine Clinic (CVIM) will also celebrate "Take a Loved One to the Doctor" day on Tuesday, September 16th at The Greenville Center. Health sessions and screenings will take place between 9am - 3pm located at 1330 Spring Street in Charlotte.
"Take a Loved One to the Doctor Day" is part of a national campaign by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services which focuses on the health gap between minority populations and the general population. "Take a loved one to the Doctor Day" is used as a day to encourage individuals to see a health care professional or to make an appointment to see a health care professional and begin taking charge of your health! For more information, please contact The Charlotte Volunteers in Medicine Clinic at 704-350-1300.
About CVIM
The Charlotte Volunteers in Medicine Clinic is a program of Project HealthShare, Inc. Project HealthShare, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is committed to promoting the objectives of Healthy People 2010. Project HealthShare, Inc. supports the federal government's initiative to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Disparities in health, which focuses on "closing the gap" with regard to racial and ethnic differences in diabetes, AIDS, cardiovascular disease, and cancer screening.
For more information, please call (704)350-1300 or (704) 336-3367 or visit www.projecthealthshare.com.
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