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TAMPA, Fla. — Barney Morris mentioned at 41, he was thriving.
“I was a federal agent at the time, moving up the ladder rapidly, I was a major in the [U.S.] Air Force,” he mentioned.
And then got here his annual check-up, which revealed he had prostate cancer.
“I thought I was in perfect health. I had absolutely no symptoms,” he mentioned, “Had I not had a PSA test during the regular routine physical examination, I wouldn’t be here.”
According to the American Cancer Society, it is a analysis that 1-in-8 men will receive at some point in their lifetime, and extra typically these men are Black.
They’re numbers that now have the two-time cancer survivor preaching the significance of preventative screenings to men residing in deprived communities and Black communities—who typically get screened much less.
“But at least get the basic once a year and get that screening. Because if caught early, it’s almost 98 percent curable,” he mentioned.
Catching it sooner relatively than later can also be a message Tara Calise, APRN, shares together with her sufferers at WellMed at Plant City.
“The five-year survival rate is very good. It’s over 96 percent, so the key thing here is early prevention,” Calise mentioned.
Calise advised ABC Action News that her sufferers typically are available in pondering that the cancer signs they’re experiencing are associated to one thing else.
“Their urination is more frequent, it’s harder to start a stream of urine. They may have some pain in their pelvic area and lower back. They could have some sexual side effects as well,” she mentioned.
Another main hurdle is getting men comfy with a number of the screenings themselves. Calise mentioned to assist overcome that it’s best to work to get extra comfy together with your physician.
“Once they get to know somebody and they feel very comfortable and I set their mind at ease or maybe they’ve had a friend that’s said ‘It’s not so bad.’ Then they’re very willing to undergo it,” she mentioned.
And for Morris, he mentioned he helps to combat that discomfort with a bit powerful love.
“Would you rather deal with a few seconds of discomfort? Or would you rather die?” he mentioned.
Numerous the work that Morris is doing to educate the neighborhood is thru a nonprofit 100 black men of Tampa Bay Inc. The group’s total mission is to enhance the standard of life and academic alternatives for the Bay area’s Black neighborhood.
In honor of Prostate Cancer Awareness month, the group is sharing information on native screening choices and encouraging members to join a prostate cancer examine—being placed on by the Moffitt Cancer Center. It focuses on finding out a possible link between genetics and prostate cancer.
Looking to get screened?
While most specialists suggest you begin screenings at age 55, they mentioned should you’re Black or have a household historical past of the illness, you should start screenings at 40. To study extra about prostate cancer screenings, click on here.
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