DIDSBURY - In Alberta, one in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime. When detected early, prostate cancer is one of the most successfully treated types of cancer.
To make screening for prostate cancer even easier, the Man Van will be at the Didsbury ATB (1820 20th St.) on July 12 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Laurie Klassen, Didsbury ATB manager, said that Rural Alberta Ride for Dad will also be on location having a barbecue with food donated by AG Foods.
"We have Tony Overwater, a local Didsburian, he was instrumental in getting the first Man Van built due to his fundraising," said Klassen. "He was also instrumental in getting Ride for Dad in our community. He's a big supporter of taking care of health and men's health in particular. Tony will be the first to get tested."
The Man Van offers fast, free baseline PSA blood tests for men aged 40-80. It's no longer a glove test and no appointment is necessary.
"There is pre-screening for anyone over 18 and under 40," she said. "It's all a simple blood test. The way we have set it up is that anyone who gets pre-screened or tested will get their lunch free. I have also gone to a few of the local businesses in town and got gift cards.
"So men who get tested will get free lunch and a gift card. They're coming over their lunch hour - so we want to make it worthwhile for them."
Klassen said they've got the large Man Van coming and they can test up to 100 men.
"So we'd like as many to come out as possible," she said. "It's important because it's one of those things if you can get tested early and find out you have the gene, or you have it (prostate cancer), they can do preventative. Too many people are dying from prostate cancer and there's no need."
