MUHC urologists bring prostate exams to the people
Docs hit the road to offer men a free Father’s Day check-up.
MUHC Men’s Health Day – Place Ville Marie – Thursday June 18, 2009
It’s quick, painless, and it could save your life. It’s the cringe-worthy physical check for prostate cancer, and it’s available free at the fourth annual MUHC Men’s Health Day. This year, the event will be held in Place Ville Marie on Thursday June 18, 2009 (McGill Metro station). The event, held near to Father’s Day every year, raises awareness of male reproductive issues and health concerns such as testis, prostate, kidney, and bladder cancers, heart and lung diseases, sleep apnea, eye care and smoking cessation.
“Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Canadian men”, says Dr. Chan, an MUHC urologist and organizer of the Men’s Health Day event. “This year, nearly 25,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and 4,300 will die because of the disease.” Put another way, over 475 Canadian men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer every week. As with all cancers, early diagnosis is vital. A quick and simple prostate exam can detect anomalies in the prostate gland that warrant further investigation.
However, too many men avoid getting an annual check-up and even find excuses to ignore obvious symptoms. “This is a big deal,” says Dr. Chan. “Prostate cancer is 95% curable if detected and treated in the early stages.” A simple check-up can make the world of difference. “We found that men tend to back out if they have time to wait and think about their check-up,” says Dr. Chan. “We established this event so that they can do their check-up on the spot. It’s quick, painless, and will give you peace of mind about your health.”
The Men’s Health Day event starts at 9 a.m. and runs until 5 p.m. Dr. Peter Chan will be joined by a team of urologists and other healthcare professionals from the MUHC to provide information on men’s health issues. A variety of services will be available including free fitness and health evaluations and blood pressure checks. This event is open to the public free of charge. For a free health check-up, simply bring a valid Quebec Medicare card.
The McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) is a comprehensive academic health institution with an international reputation for excellence in clinical programs, research and teaching. Its partner hospitals are 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. The goal of the MUHC is to provide patient care based on the most advanced knowledge in the health care field and to contribute to the development of new knowledge. www.muhc.ca.