September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, and Alberta Blue Cross is partnering with the Prostate Cancer Centre to support life-saving preventative care for men through the mobile MAN VAN® clinic.
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Canadian men. The Prostate Cancer Centre estimates that 1 in 6 men in Alberta will be diagnosed with Prostate Cancer, and it is the third leading cause of death from cancer in men. Often symptomless in its early stages, prostate cancer requires proactive screening to catch it before it becomes more serious¹.
Yet, men are statistically less likely to seek preventative care. According to the Prostate Cancer Centre, men are 67 per cent less likely to have a general practitioner, and often delay medical attention¹.
The MAN VAN®, operated by the Prostate Cancer Centre, helps close this gap by offering free, on-the-spot PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) blood tests to men ages 40 to 70. As Alberta’s only mobile men’s health clinic, the MAN VAN® brings essential screening services directly to communities, especially in rural or underserved areas. Select clinics also offer blood pressure and blood sugar checks, giving men a broader picture of their health.
“We know that men are often reluctant to put their health first, but cancer doesn’t discriminate” says Jeff Davison, chief executive officer of the Prostate Cancer Centre. “The MAN VAN® removes barriers to getting checked, because the reality is it could be your husband, brother, father or friend who becomes the 1 in 6 Albertans diagnosed with prostate cancer each year. Early detection saves lives, and one simple blood test can make all the difference. We sincerely thank Alberta Blue Cross for their support in keeping the MAN VAN® on the road, meeting the men where they are.”
As a proud sponsor of the MAN VAN®, Alberta Blue Cross is helping expand the clinic’s reach by ensuring more men have access to these potentially life-saving tests at no cost, and with no appointment needed.
“There are 2,700 new cases of prostate cancer in Alberta every year, and last year alone prostate cancer claimed the lives of 450 Alberta men,” says Brian Geislinger, senior vice-president of Corporate Relations and Community Engagement with Alberta Blue Cross. “If you’re a male age 50 or over, do yourself a big favour and get a PSA test—it could literally save your life. And if you have a male age 50 or over in your life, please encourage them to get tested.”
Geislinger notes that men of Indigenous or African ethnicity have twice the rate of prostate cancer as Caucasian men, and that 100 per cent of prostate cancer cases are treatable if caught early².
Upcoming clinics and locations are available on the Prostate Cancer Centre’s website.
About Alberta Blue Cross
As the largest provider of health benefits in Alberta, we believe we have the potential and responsibility to impact people’s lives for the better. We believe all communities should thrive, and we are committed to serving as a champion for wellness by promoting the health of Albertans.
About the Prostate Cancer Centre
The Prostate Cancer Centre (PCC), in partnership with the Southern Alberta Institute of Urology, is a charitable organization and world-class medical centre dedicated to the fight against prostate cancer. For more than 20 years, we’ve been advocating for equitable access to healthcare for all men across Alberta.
For more information, please contact Jaclyn Spurrell, manager of Corporate Communications, Alberta Blue Cross at jspurrel@ab.bluecross.ca or 780-498-8255 or Stacey Smith, director of fund development, Prostate Cancer Centre at Stacey.s@prostatecancercentre.ca or 403-589-8401.
Sources:
1 Prostate Cancer Centre
2 Prostate cancer risk in the Black community | Canadian Cancer Society
