Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer affecting men and is nearly 100% survivable if detected early. But since the pandemic began about 18 months ago, prostate cancer screenings have declined with some states reporting a rise in the number of prostate cancer cases not being discovered until after the cancer is widely spread within the body.
To encourage men between the ages of 45 and 75 to get screened, September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.
Only a simple sample of blood is needed to conduct a screening and save a life – just ask Femi Ogunlade who is grateful the test was part of his yearly blood work. “I was shocked to find out my PSA level was so high,” says Femi.
A high PSA level indicates the presence of a protein produced by cancerous tissue in the prostate. Thanks to his routine checkup, Femi’s prostate cancer was caught early.
“After years of kidney failure, my wife donated a kidney to me in 2008. So when my doctors found the prostate cancer, they were concerned radiation might damage it,” explains Femi. “Luckily they caught it early and were able to operate.”
“By using a personalized approach, we are able to identify which men are best served by aggressive treatment and which men can safely be treated with a more conservative method,” explains Mutahar Ahmed, board-certified urologist at Hackensack University Medical Center. “Men should not be afraid to get screened or seek treatment. We have the most innovative technology, including robotic surgery engineered to advance patient care and improve outcomes.”
“I spent only one night in the hospital and my recovery was easy and fast,” says Femi, who says he will continue to get screened every year.
For more information or for an interview with Dr. Ahmed and his patient, Femi, please contact Mary McGeever, PR Manager, mary.mcgeever@hmhn.org or 551-795-1675.
