State Senator Joseph Addabbo Jr. is once again partnering with Mount Sinai to bring a free prostate cancer screening event to Ozone Park on Monday, Sept. 19.
September is known as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.
The free prostate cancer PSA blood test screening event will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Mount Sinai’s Robert Smith Prostate Cancer Screening Mobile Unit that will be set up at the Living Word Christian Fellowship, located at 132-05 Cross Bay Blvd., to service men who register with Addabbo’s office.
After a successful prostate cancer screening event in July at Atlas Park in Glendale, Addabbo wanted to bring the event back to a different portion of the district to help more men take control of their health.
“We had the privilege of getting a dozen men their free PSA blood test at Atlas Mall in July, and I am happy to partner again with Mount Sinai to bring this great event to the Ozone Park community,” Addabbo said. “It is important that men check their prostate health, especially as they age, because early detection is the best way to combat prostate cancer. During this Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, I want to thank the medical professionals with Mount Sinai and Pastor Joel Sadaphal and staff at Living Word Christian Fellowship for their coordination on this event.”
According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in America. In the U.S., one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime. Men who are 45 years old (or age 40, if they’re Black or have a strong family history of prostate or other cancers) should consider getting screened for prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer screening starts with a PSA test that measures the level of prostate-specific antigen in your blood. PSA is a protein produced by the prostate, and a small amount is normally released into the bloodstream, according to the Prostate Cancer Foundation. When there’s a problem with the prostate, more PSA is released. A rising PSA can be one of the first signs of prostate cancer, though there are other factors that can also cause higher PSA levels. A PSA level above 3 ng/mL may suggest the need for further testing.
Addabbo’s free screening event will be open for men aged 40 and older who have never been previously diagnosed and treated for prostate cancer, whether or not they have health insurance.
While registration for this event is encouraged, walk-ups will be accommodated on the day of the event. Those who register with Addabbo’s office will need to provide their name, age, date of birth, address and phone number. On the day of screening, patients will be asked for their government-issued ID and insurance card, if they have one.
Insurance is not required since participants will not be billed for the screening, however, if a follow-up visit becomes necessary based on the results of the screening, Mount Sinai will already have any needed information should they wish to continue their care with Mount Sinai. Patients generally receive results within two to three days after the test was administered.
To register for your free PSA blood test, contact Addabbo’s office at 718-738-1111.
