LANSING MI - Got questions about prostate cancer? Answers are on the way.

Lansing’s Prostate Cancer Awareness Forum will provide them on Wednesday, September 15, at St. Stephen’s Community Church, 1420 W. Oakland Ave. (at Jenison St.) Speakers David Wartinger, D.O. and Janaki Moni, radiation Oncologist, will be on hand from 6:30pm-8:30 pm.

That’s the time and place for area residents to ask any questions, make comments, and/or concerns about your health. In addition, the Great Lakes Cancer Institute in the Breslin Cancer Center located at the Ingham Regional Medical Center, 401 W. Greenlawn, will host a prostate cancer detection screening on September 22 from 12-4 p.m. and 5-8 p.m. and again on September 29, 5-8 p.m. Pre-registration is required. Call: 517-367-5159 or 1–877- 224-4325. Transportation is available by calling: 5117- 367-5165.

All men over 50, and African American men over 40 as well as men who have a family history of prostate cancer should be tested. The lab work, and the prostate exam by a urologist are free. The exam takes less than an hour.

Early detection is a key to overcoming prostate cancer.
"Always stay on top of your regular examinations and follow your doctor's orders for they could benefit your health," said Loren Graham, a longtime prostate cancer survivor. It will behoove all men to take that advice.

Here is some prostate cancer background information and facts:
Oncology (the branch of medicine that deals with tumors, including the study of their development, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention), has discovered that African American men have the highest rate of prostate cancer and the lowest rate of survival. Doctors say that black males are one and a half times more likely to develop prostate cancer and are two to three times more likely to die from the disease than white men. Therefore, it’s imperative for all men to pay attention to symptoms, get a screening, and seek out treatment, especially African American men.

The prostate is a gland found in the male reproductive system and is a very important part of the body that should not be ignored. Prostate cancer often does not cause symptoms for many years. By the time symptoms occur, the disease may have spread beyond the prostate. Burning urination, blood in the urine, and painful ejaculation are just a few of the noticeable symptoms. Once these symptoms have surfaced, your next step is a screening.

There are two tests that can be used to detect prostate cancer when symptoms have not yet occurred:

A digital rectal exam(DRE). This is an examination in which a doctor inserts a finger into the rectum to feel for abnormalities.
Or a prostate specific antigen (PSA) a blood test that measures the level of prostate- specific antigen, a substance produced by the prostate and some other tissues in the body. Increased levels of PSA may be a sign of prostate cancer.
If there are signs of prostate cancer shown in your DRE or if your PSA level is high, you can get a diagnosis of it confirmed by a biopsy.

Your next step would be to seek out treatment. Three treatment options are generally accepted for men with localized prostate cancer: radical prostatectomy, radiation therapy, and surveillance (also known as watchful waiting.)

So, men, especially African American men, do your part to prevent prostate cancer and attend the Awareness Forum and the prostate cancer screening.

Shanna M. Bryant is a sophomore at Lansing Community College

Wal-Mart shows the "Spirit of Giving"

Wal-Mart donated $1,000 to Closing The Digital Gap at its grand opening at the Eastland Mall on Aug. 18, 2004. Pictured (l-r) Wal-Mart Managers, Nicole Manning, John Sandbarg and CTDG Executive Director Marcus Jefferson, Sr.