MIDDLETOWN, NY —  Garnet Health Medical Center, in partnership with Garnet Health Doctors, is offering free prostate cancer screenings Monday, Sept. 25, and Thursday, Sept. 28, at the Outpatient Services Building (707 East Main Street, Middletown). Pre-registration is required at garnethealth.org/events. Search keywords “prostate screening” to reserve your free prostate screening appointment. Appointments are limited and are first come, first served.

The prostate screening program is for men who meet the following criteria:

• Are between the ages 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.

“Prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death among men,” said Samuel Abourbih, MD, Garnet Health Doctors urologist and chairman, Garnet Health Genitourinary Program Leadership. “However, cases detected early are often low-risk and can be treated quickly. We encourage all men who are eligible to get this free and simple test.”

September is National Prostate Awareness Month. Garnet Health is holding this free prostate screening event to promote awareness, the importance of prostate health, and how screenings and early detection can save lives.

For more information on Garnet Health, please visit garnethealth.org.