Daniel Prince
Prostate cancer rate for black men in Union County is 40% higher than the state average
Early detection of prostate cancer is important, so the Gibbs Cancer Center is hosting a free prostate cancer screening event. The free screening is for men ages 40-70 who are uninsured, underinsured, or do not have a primary care physician and have not had a test in the last year. It will take place at the Gibbs Cancer Center at 380 Serpentine Drive in Spartanburg on Tuesday, September 13, from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, and the Gibbs Cancer Center wants to spread the word that nearly 1 in 8 men in the US will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and the risk is greater for black men or those with a family history of prostate cancer. It is the most common cancer in men, but is treatable and curable, according to Dr. Jeremy Kilburn, a radiation oncologist for Gibbs Cancer Center. Screening helps doctors catch prostate cancer in earlier stages, which can be treated more simply and not have to undergo longer-term therapies.
According to health data from the SC Central Cancer Registry from 2014-2018, prostate cancer was the third-highest diagnosis of new cancer cases in Union County, and the second-highest cancer rate overall, behind breast cancer. In addition, DHEC reported that from 2014-2018, the death rate from prostate cancer was the second-highest, behind lung and bronchial cancers. The statistics show that the rate of new cases of prostate cancer among white males in Union County mirrors the state average, but the prostate cancer rate among black males is roughly 40% higher in Union County than the state average.
To register for the free screening, call 864-560-1966.