Over 150 Male Attendees Gather to Prioritize Their Well-being.

Newswise — In spite of the unpleasant weather over the past weekend, more than 150 males attended Hackensack Meridian Health’s Annual Men’s Health Event at the Hackensack Civic Center where legendary Harry Carson, former NY Giants player, inaugurated the event with words of inspiration and the significance of regular check-ups.

Taking place on the final day of Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, the men, hailing from various parts of New Jersey, received complimentary screenings for prostate cancer, hypertension, diabetes, bronchial asthma, respiratory ailments, colorectal cancer, and more. They also received advice and assistance from specialists affiliated with the Hackensack Meridian Center for Discovery and Innovation (HMH’s world renowned research center), the Hackensack University Medical Center Department of Urology, and the Cancer Community Outreach & Engagement Program at the John Theurer Cancer Center and the Hackensack Meridian Health Community Outreach Division.

"This type of public event plays a crucial role in our healthcare mission," stated David Perlin, Ph.D., chief scientific officer and executive vice president. "At the CDI, our Cancer Prevention Precision Control Institute endeavors to make a difference through community outreach, which has become an integral part of the CDI's mission."

Approximately 1 out of 8 men will receive a prostate cancer diagnosis during their lifetime. African American men face an even higher risk of developing prostate cancer compared to white men and men of other racial backgrounds. Black men are more than twice as likely to succumb to prostate cancer and are slightly more prone to being diagnosed with advanced-stage disease compared to white men. This event proved most beneficial for men at higher risk of prostate cancer, including African American men and men with a family history of the disease.

"The pandemic caused many individuals to delay necessary screening tests, many of whom already experienced limited access to healthcare," said Michael D. Stifelman, M.D., chair of Urology at Hackensack University Medical Center, director of Robotic Surgery, and co-director of Urologic Oncology at John Theurer Cancer Center.

"Our objective is to connect men, especially African American men in our community, with cancer screenings, which can detect the disease at its earliest and most treatable stages."

The various screenings were provided by Quest Diagnostics, a collaborator of Hackensack Meridian Health, based in Secaucus, NJ, at no cost to the participants. Furthermore, Quest’s Vice President of Medical Affairs, Yuri Fesko, MD, a board-certified oncologist, was present to discuss the significance of screenings and the latest advancements in prostate cancer testing.

With such a substantial turnout, the entire team felt a sense of fulfillment in bringing the shared decision-making model from the physician's office to the community and reconnecting men with essential medical care.