Chairman of Urology and Chief of Robotic Surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital, Dr. David Samadi, in collaboration with the Samadi Robotics Foundation will be holding a free PSA screening event, Saturday, April 29th from 9am-11am at Redeemer Presbyterian Church located at 150 West 83rd street. The Foundation will pay for the first 200 men that sign up. Men can register online at https://samadiroboticsfoundation.org/ or by calling Dr. David Samadi’s office at (212)365-5000.
The Samadi Robotics Foundation is dedicated to the early diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer. With the appropriate use of PSA screening, especially in high-risk populations, we can reduce prostate cancer related mortalities. Dr. David Samadi’s life mission is to bring global awareness and attention to a disease that is the second leading cause of death in men.
The Samadi Robotics Foundation will be offering complimentary PSA screenings that aims to target the male community. Annual screenings for prostate cancer are highly recommended and we encourage men between the ages of 40 and 80 to register. Men should always consider their risk factors and make a conscious effort to get their PSA checked. “I’m a firm believer in men practicing good health habits,” said Dr. Samadi. “This can greatly reduce a variety of medical conditions including reducing a man’s risk for prostate cancer:”
A PSA screening is a blood test used to detect the presence of prostate specific antigen. This test is used as a diagnostic tool for prostate related disease, most commonly prostate cancer. Other potential causes of elevated PSA values include benign prostatic hypertrophy, infection and urogenital tract instrumentation; however, an elevated PSA alerts the physician to further evaluate the cause.
According to Dr. David Samadi, “Despite the efforts made in regards to early detection for prostate cancer, the disease remains the second leading cancer cause of death in men, taking the lives of approximately 26,730 men this year. Tens of thousands of additional men suffer from the burden of painful metastatic prostate cancer, which can lead to bone fractures, the inability to urinate, spinal cord compression and renal failure. The evidence remains that since PSA screening became widely recognized in the early 1990’s, there has been a 39 percent reduction in prostate cancer mortality rates.”
By actively practicing early detection techniques, lives can be saved. Not only are there more treatment options available, but there are better outcomes, reduction in side effects and lower chance of experiencing recurrence when prostate cancer is caught in its localized stages. Prostate cancer discovered in the earliest stages is not only manageable but is also an easily treatable disease.
It is important to use PSA as a predictor of an individual’s prostate cancer risk. A delay in diagnosis leads to advanced prostate cancer which complicates the definitive treatment. Nonetheless, patients with advanced prostate cancer and metastasis have limited treatment options.
“Waiting to screen until age 50 will miss prostate cancer in younger men who have the disease that will be more advanced and less treatable by the time it is diagnosed,” explained Dr. Samadi. “A baseline PSA screening at age 40 is essential to catch any abnormal levels. If PSA comes back normal, then we can wait until age 45 to do yearly screenings after that.”
“By spreading awareness of this disease, we can work together to inform men and women about the importance of prostate cancer screening and prevention,” said Dr. Samadi. “Getting a conversation started about men’s health and prevention of prostate cancer is a big step towards creating a healthier environment and lifestyle for men. And that’s what I care about the most.”