MAN VAN brings free men’s health to area

Photo of the Man Van from prostatecancercentre.ca

Mobile clinic at Elk Hall runs 2 to 6 pm for men 18 plus with PSA testing for ages 40 to 70

The MAN VAN will be at Elk Hall in Blairmore on September 4 from 2 to 6 p.m., offering free men’s health checks. The Municipality of Crowsnest Pass is sponsoring the clinic.

Men 18 and older can attend. Prostate specific antigen testing is available for those ages 40 to 70, alongside checks for blood pressure, blood glucose, waist circumference and mental wellness for anyone 18 plus. No appointment is required and there is no cost or identification needed, according to the Prostate Cancer Centre.

“If a person gets all tests done, it will take about 15 minutes,” said Cam Brander, MAN VAN operations supervisor with the Prostate Cancer Centre. “The client will get a brochure and a wallet card and his results are written on the wallet card. The PSA results are sent out via email or text, whichever the client picks, within one week.”

Program materials note that one in six men in Alberta will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime and that the disease often shows no symptoms in early stages. The Prostate Cancer Centre launched the MAN VAN in 2009 to meet men where they are, especially in rural and Indigenous communities where access to care can be limited. Results are typically provided within…