While prostate cancer may come off as a sensitive subject among males, Tarrant County community outreach coordinator Amanda Applon introduced the 6th Annual Prostate Cancer Screening Event in hopes that this will no longer be a taboo subject during the Prostate Cancer Awareness event on Feb. 5.

“It’s not like breast cancer like the women when you feel like something is off,” Applon said. “For men, if you start to exhibit signs, you’re likely to already be in the advanced stage, and the treatment is already in life-saving measure.”

Among the audience, TR admissions registrar coordinator Pedro Portillo was surprised to learn how easy the screening process was.

“It’s a very simple test. It’s just a blood draw. I think initially when you think about it’s a prostate screening, you’re thinking ‘it’s a little bit more invasive, and that’s a little bit scary,’” he said. “But the fact that she said it was just really a blood draw makes it a little easier to come in and do the screening.”

Applon said that prostate cancer is known to be a silent killer as it’s the most common non-skin-related cancer among males.

“Of the 262 screenings in 2019, three men were found to have borderline levels while 18 were referred to treatment,” she said. “By the time that you get to the 3rd and 4th level, they need to have such an extensive treatment to cure that.”

Applon also mentioned men over the age of 30 and 35 tended to be diagnosed with prostate cancer.

“About one man in seven will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime,” she said. “They may have deep pain or stiffness in the pelvis, back or in the upper thigh, and they may think ‘I work out a little too much, or I do too much around the house.’”

Applon also brought up other symptoms such as fatigue, nausea or vomiting. While those may be normal signs of the flu, if everything happens at once, that may be a sign of prostate cancer. 

TR health services coordinator Angela Hall hoped that the audience would be more knowledgeable when it comes to signs and symptoms of prostate cancer and the importance of health screenings.

During the Feb. 15 event, Steve Eager, Fox 4 Dallas news anchor, who struggled with prostate cancer, will serve as the key speaker to talk about his struggle and how he won the battle.

“Recently, he had prostate cancer and had surgery,” Applon said. “Thankfully, he’s now cancer-free.”

Commissioner Roy Charles Brooks will welcome the event on Feb. 15.

“All men should know their prostate health status; especially men of color, who are at greater risk than the population at large,” he said. “Prostate cancer is curable disease. Early detection is key.”

The 6th Annual Prostate Cancer Screening Event will be from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Feb. 15 at Moncrief Cancer Institute, 400 W. Magnolia Ave., Fort Worth, TX 76104. Participants can call 817-531-5600 or go to www.tarrantcounty.com to register for a screening opportunity.