September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, and it’s no wonder that prostate cancer gets an entire month of recognition. For men, it is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death. Yet, when caught in its earliest stages, the five-year survival rate is over 99%. While the death rate has been steadily declining for over two decades, there is still room for improvement. St. Christopher Fund believes it starts with proactive screenings.
As part of the Get Preventative Screenings (GPS) program through the St. Christopher Fund, Class A over-the-road (OTR) drivers can sign up to request a free PSA testing kit. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a protein produced by the prostate gland. PSA testing can be used as a proactive prostate cancer screening tool, a follow-up for prostate-related symptoms, or a way to monitor already diagnosed prostate cancer.
An elevated PSA could indicate inflammation of the prostate, an enlarged prostate, prostate cancer, or other medical conditions such as infection. It is important to keep in mind that an abnormal PSA result does not automatically indicate a cancer diagnosis.
PSA testing is recommended for men starting around age 55, with some exceptions. For high-risk individuals, which includes Black men and men with an immediate family history of prostate cancer, screening should begin as early as age 40. PSA testing may also be recommended for men experiencing prostate symptoms such as painful or frequent urination, blood in the urine, or chronic pelvic and/or back pain.
With the availability of new FDA-approved at-home PSA test kits, OTR drivers now have the ability to test without the need for appointments or downtime. St. Christopher Fund is able to provide these test kits to eligible Class A drivers thanks to a partnership with Call-on-Doc and generous sponsorships from Southern Recipe and OOIDA. A simple finger prick to collect a few drops of blood is all that is needed to complete the PSA test, which is then returned in a pre-paid mailer. Participants can expect results via email within two weeks.
To learn more about the GPS program and other free programs offered by the St. Christopher Fund, or to get registered today, please visit truckersfund.org/healthwellness. We welcome your questions or suggestions for future topics. Contact SCF Health & Wellness Manager Lindsey Bryan at health@truckersfund.org.