Free prostate cancer screening offered in Warwick

Warwick — Any man 40 years old or older who donates blood will receive a free test to screen for prostate cancer. Donors who are tested will be notified of their results so they can share them with their personal physicians, said Anita McCroskey, manager of donor services for Community Blood Services’ New York facilities. PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) is a natural protein produced by normal prostate glands in healthy men. The test measures PSA levels in the blood. An elevated PSA blood level may be a warning sign in men for prostate cancer, other urinary tract diseases or conditions such as benign enlargement of the prostate gland. According to the American Cancer Society, about 219,000 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed this year in the United States and an estimated 27,000 will die from the disease. Donors can make an appointment to donate whole blood by calling 294-3362. Walk-ins will also be welcome. Community Blood Services relies on donations of blood and platelets to ensure there is enough blood on the shelves to help patients at the many hospitals it serves in New York State. Currently, there is less than a one-day supply of blood on the shelves. All blood types are needed, particularly types O positive, O negative, B negative, and A positive. Donors can donate at the Warwick center, located at 20 Grand Street near the Mount Alverno Center, on Monday, Sept. 24, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; or at the New Windsor center, 575 Hudson Valley Ave., Suite 206, on Tuesday or Wednesday, Sept. 25 or 26, from 1 to 8 p.m., or on Saturday, Sept. 29, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Karen Ferriday at 201-705-1617.