Fifty-six men in the Troy area took advantage of the free PSA screenings offered by Troy Regional Medical Center Wednesday.

The free PSA screenings were done in observance of National Men’s Health Awareness Week, June 13-18.

Jennifer Ventress, TRMC chief clinical officer, said she was very pleased with the number of men who participated in the PSA screenings.

“There is an on-going, increasing and predominately silent crisis in the health and well being of men,” Ventress said.

“More than 30 million men suffer from prostate conditions that negatively affect their quality of health. So, at TRMC, we wanted to bring greater awareness to prostate cancer and the importance of early detection through PSA screenings.”

Ventress said prostate cancer can hit any man at any age.

“So, we didn’t specify any age group for the free PSA screenings,” she said. “Any man who came in was screened.”

The screenings were completely confidential. TRMC will not receive any information regarding the screenings.

“Each participant will receive the results of his screening and will then be responsible for any follow-up necessary,” Ventress said.

“We strongly suggest that any participants whose screenings are abnormal see their physicians.”

Free screenings are offered at time at health departments and are available at private physicians’ offices.

Ventress said PSA screenings are covered by insurance if recommended by a physician.

“For insurance to pay, the screenings have to be medically necessary,” she said. “Then there is the co-pay and the deductible.”

The success of the TRMC free PSA screenings was sufficient for the hospital to consider offering the same screenings next year.

“It’s that important,” Ventress said. “Early prostate cancer detection can save lives.

Each year, more than 230,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and about 30,000 will die of it.”