MIDDLETOWN — Garnet Health Medical Center, in partnership with Garnet Health Doctors, is offering free prostate cancer screenings on Wednesday, Sept. 23, and Thursday, Sept. 24, at the Outpatient Services Building, 707 East Main Street, in Middletown. Preregistration is required.

Those who qualify can register by visiting garnethealth.org/prostatescreening or calling (845) 333-1133. Appointments are limited and are first come, first served.

The prostate screening program is for men who meet the following criteria:
• Are between the age of 40 and 75
• Have no personal history of prostate cancer
• Have not been under the care of a urologist in the past five years

The prostate screening consists of a digital rectal exam (DRE) and a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test, each of which takes about a minute to perform. The combination of these two methods is the most effective procedure for detecting prostate cancer at an early stage.

“We encourage all men who are eligible to get this free and simple screening,” said Samuel Abourbih, MD, Garnet Health Doctors urologist and Garnet Health Urology Department chair. “When prostate cancer is detected early, it is often low risk and treatable. Prostate cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer among men, making regular screening an important part of preventive care.”

September is National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Garnet Health is dedicated to identifying prostate cancer in its earliest stage. By holding this free prostate screening event, Garnet Health wants to promote the importance of prostate health and how screenings and early detection can save lives.

To learn more about Garnet Health’s services, visit garnethealth.org.