Every year, prostate cancer silently threatens hundreds of thousands of men, stealing lives and impacting families. It’s a stark reality: one in eight men will face this diagnosis in their lifetime, and tragically, tens of thousands will succumb to it annually. This silent epidemic demands our immediate attention and proactive action.
This urgent call to awareness is amplified as September marks Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Dignity Health on the Central Coast is joining the national effort to shed light on the disease, emphasizing the critical importance of early detection, screening and treatment. Prostate cancer remains the second most common cancer in men, after skin cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, an estimated 313,780 new cases of prostate cancer are expected to be diagnosed in 2025, and approximately 35,700 men are projected to die from the disease this year. While these numbers are significant, advancements in screening and treatment mean that when detected early, prostate cancer is highly treatable
“Prostate cancer often grows slowly, but early detection through regular screenings is incredibly important,” said Samuel Kiely, MD, Urologist at Dignity Health Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria. “Many men don’t experience symptoms in the early stages, which is why conversations with your doctor about your risk factors and screening options, particularly if you’re over 45 or have a family history, are critical. Knowing your risk and getting screened can truly save lives.”
Risk factors for prostate cancer include:
- Age: The risk increases significantly after age 45.
- Family History: Having a father or brother who had prostate cancer, especially before age 65, more than doubles a man’s risk.
- Race/Ethnicity: African American men and Caribbean men of African ancestry are more likely to get prostate cancer and are more than twice as likely to die from it.
Dignity Health Mission Hope Cancer Center encourages men to talk to their healthcare providers about their individual risk factors and discuss the benefits and limitations of prostate cancer screening tests, such as the Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test and digital rectal exam (DRE).
Dignity Health Mission Hope Cancer Center in Santa Maria is offering Free Prostate Cancer Screenings on September 27 from 9-11 a.m. for men who don’t have health insurance and who are between the ages of 45-70. Participants must have a reservation in advance because spaces are limited. Call (805) 219-HOPE (4673) to reserve a space.
Mission Hope Cancer Center is located at: 1325 Church Street, Santa Maria, CA 93454. For more information Mission Hope Cancer Center and screening guidelines, please visit the Mission Hope Website or consult with your primary care physician.
