FREE SCREENING: MEN URGED TO GO TO PROSTATE CANCER CLINIC HERE

Mention the word prostate, or rectal examination, and the predictable result among some men is grins, snickers or laughter. Even comedians make light of the subject.

But prostate cancer is no laughing matter to the estimated 32,000 men over 40 who will die within the next year of a form of cancer that is easily diagnosed and is treatable.

This is National Prostate Cancer Awareness Week. In observance of the event, Southeast Missouri Hospital and St. Francis Medical Center, in cooperation with local physicians, will sponsor the third annual, free prostate screening clinic Saturday.

The clinic will be at Southeast Hospital's Regional Cancer Center from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. To make an appointment call the center at 651-5550. Although the clinic is open to all men, the screening is particularly recommended for men over 40.

Urologist, Dr. Paul D. Thompson of Cape Girardeau, medical adviser for the clinic, said prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of death among men over 55. He said the screening is for men who do not have any obvious symptoms of prostate cancer.

"Those who believe they have a problem should be seen as soon as possible in a physician's office," Thompson said. Results of the screening will be sent to the patient's physician.

Last year 200 men attended the clinic. This year 500 already have called to make appointments, reported nurse Nancy Mattingly, coordinator for Southeast Hospital's cancer program.

Mattingly said old attitudes about prostate and rectal exams for men are changing as they realize the seriousness and implications of prostate cancer. "Another reason we're seeing more men come in for screening is the availability of the free screening clinics," she said. "It would certainly help if there were more of these kinds of clinics throughout the year."

Mattingly said that last year over 150,000 men in the United States were given prostate cancer screenings in 8,000 medical facilities, even though sponsors expected only 10,000 to 25,000 would show up. This year it's estimated that nearly one-half million men over 40 will take advantage of the screenings.

Mattingly said of those who came in last year in Cape Girardeau, examining physicians found 20 with abnormal prostate conditions. Additional tests determined that three of the 20 had prostate cancer.

Mattingly said other abnormalities of the prostate, such as infection, can occur without the presence of prostate cancer. She said early diagnosis means early treatment before damage occurs to the kidneys or bladder.

"The important thing to remember is, like all forms of cancer, the earlier prostate cancer is detected and diagnosed, and treatment started, the greater the chances of survival," she said. "And prostate cancer is one of the easiest forms of cancer to treat, if it is detected and diagnosed in its earliest stages."

Viney Mosley, senior representative for the American Cancer Society in Southeast Missouri, said one out of every 10 American men will develop some form of prostate cancer during their lifetime. That compares with one women in nine who will develop breast cancer during her lifetime.

"Early diagnosis and detection of prostate cancer can make the difference between life or a lingering and painful death," said Mosley.

Mosley said the American Cancer Society applauds the local hospitals and the medical community for supporting the clinics.

"They have recognized the need for this type of screening, and have provided it to the community at no cost," she said.

The American Prostate Society says the cause of prostate cancer is unknown. Race and heredity appear to be factors; hormones seem to be another factor. The society says sexual infection may or may not play a role. The most likely sources of the disease involve diet; however, nothing is certain about diet either, the society says.

While AIDS continues to attract the attention of the news media and society, relatively unpublicized prostate cancer kills two to three times more men than die from AIDS, the society reports.

According to most recent data, 14,958 people have died from AIDS, compared to the estimated 32,000 men over 40 who will die as a result of prostate cancer. And the society warns the rate is increasing every year, and will climb to a record high this year.

Prostate cancer strikes 20 percent more men than lung cancer.

The society says there are three reasons why prostate cancer kills - needlessly:

A lack of knowledge about the prostate, where it is located, its purpose, and how prostate disease develops.

Failure to get regular prostate examinations. The society estimates that less than 1 percent of American men over 40 get routine prostate examinations by a urologist.

Lack of affordable examination facilities. The majority of American men over 40 do not know a urologist or how to make an appointment to see one for a prostate examination.

Medical experts say to dispel ignorance and detect prostate cancer before it develops, prostate screening facilities must be established comparable to mammography facilities available to women. Urologists can complete a life-saving prostate examination in an hour or less, the society said.