MUHC makes getting your prostate checked as easy as going to the mall

MUHC Men’s Health Day – Place Ville Marie – Wednesday, June 16, 2010 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

It’s quick, easy and free of charge – on Wednesday, June 16th the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) Department of Urology will set up a clinic in the Place Ville Marie food court for its fifth Men’s Health Day. This annual Father’s Day event, aims to raise awareness about men’s health issues, including prostate, kidney and bladder cancers, sexual dysfunction and infertility, It will provide men with a free health check-up as well as a prostate exam.

“Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in men, and in most cases has no overt signs and symptoms,”says Dr. Peter Chan, Director of Male Reproductive Medicine. 2010 data from the Canadian Cancer Society suggest that nearly 25,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and 4,300 will die because of the disease. The disease largely affects men over the age of fifty. “In simpler terms, roughly 475 Canadian men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer every week,” says Dr. Chan.

The Prostate-specific Antigen (PSA) Test allows healthcare professionals to catch prostate cancer early, thereby saving more lives. This test is just one of several that will be available at the MUHC Men’s Health Day.

Last year’s event, which was also held at Place Ville Marie attracted around 1,000 people, and approximate 200 prostate exams were performed. Many men have an aversion prostate testing, which is a simple and painless examination. A recent survey by Men’s Health Magazine and CNN revealed that nine million American men had failed a see a doctor in the past five years, due mostly to fear, denial, embarrassment, or a sense of threatened masculinity. “Men are not as good as women when it comes to looking after their health,” says Dr. Chan. “But with our strong focus on preventative medicine we hope to change this attitude through education, and ultimately help save lives.”

This event is supported by the Canadian Cancer Society, Québec Cancer Foundation and Procure.

About the MUHC:
The McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) One of the world’s foremost academic health centres, the MUHC offers exceptional and integrated patient-centric care, research and teaching. Highly committed to the continuum of care in its community and affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine of McGill University, The Montreal Children's Hospital, the Montreal General Hospital, the Royal Victoria Hospital, the Montreal Neurological Hospital, the Montreal Chest Institute and the Lachine Hospital of the MUHC value multidisciplinary service throughout the life span, innovative technologies and practices, strategic partnerships and leadership in knowledge transfer. The MUHC is currently carrying out a $2.25-billion Redevelopment Project on three campuses—the Mountain, the Glen and Lachine—designed to provide healthcare professionals with an effective environment in which to ensure patients and their families benefit from The Best Care for Life. The campuses are also anchored in best sustainable-development practices, including LEED® and BOMA BESt guidelines. www.muhc.ca www.muhc.ca/construction