On Saturday, February 16, 2013, top prostate cancer surgeon, Dr. David Samadi , will conduct free prostate cancer screenings at the Chian Federation, 4401 Broadway in Astoria, New York 11103. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood tests and digital rectal exams (DRE) will be available at no charge from 2:30 pm to 6:30 pm. To schedule an appointment, men are asked to register at http://davidsamadi.eventbrite.com or call 718-204-2550.
Dr. Samadi is a world-renowned prostate cancer expert and robotic prostate surgeon. As the Vice Chairman, Department of Urology and Chief of Robotics and Minimally Invasive Surgery at The Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, Dr. Samadi has performed more than 4,500 successful robotic laparoscopic prostate surgeries. His Samadi Modified Advanced Robotic Technique (SMART) surgery yields highly successful results in prostate cancer cure rate, as well as urinary continence and sexual potency after surgery.
As a specialist in the diagnosis and treatment of urologic diseases and cancers, Dr. Samadi strongly encourages men to begin annual prostate screenings at age 50. African American men and men with a family history of prostate cancer are considered high risk for the disease and are advised to begin at age 40 or 45. The PSA is a simple blood test and the DRE is a painless physical exam of the prostate to check for irregularities.
Dr. Samadi calls the PSA test "an important first step" in diagnosing prostate cancer and other conditions such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). While the PSA test alone cannot confirm the presence of prostate cancer, an elevated PSA level indicates a potential issue. "When followed by a DRE and a prostate biopsy, as necessary, we can catch the disease very early and effectively eliminate it through surgery or other means," said Dr. Samadi. Localized prostate cancer is considered highly treatable through methods such as robotic prostatectomy surgery and radiation therapy.
Long-term, men with an elevated PSA or fluctuations in their PSA level are advised to seek the counsel of an expert in both prostate cancer and PSA monitoring. "One elevated result is not cause for alarm," Dr. Samadi explains, "It's important to partner with a specialist who has experience in interpreting PSA results year after year. Continuous monitoring and care offers men the greatest opportunity for early diagnosis and swift treatment."
Repeatedly high PSA levels can be followed by DREs, courses of antibiotics, and prostate biopsies, depending on the patient's unique circumstances. "I repeatedly witness the life-saving benefits of routine PSA screenings and, in my opinion, the treatment opportunities afforded by the PSA save a significant number of lives each year," said Dr. Samadi. A University of Rochester Medical Center study recently suggested that the PSA test and early detection may prevent as many as 17,000 metastatic prostate cancer cases each year.
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