September marks Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, and life-saving mobile screenings could be coming to a neighborhood near you.

Emory Winship Cancer Institute is rolling out an innovative outreach program to get men in Georgia tested. In the United States, about 12.9% of men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point. 

The National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program estimated that 313,780 men in the United States would receive a diagnosis of prostate cancer in 2025 and over 35,000 men are projected to die of the disease.

But, for Black men, the numbers are even more alarming.

As previously reported by Capital B Atlanta, Black men have the highest death rate for prostate cancer of any racial or ethnic group, and are more than twice as likely to die from prostate cancer as white men. Research shows this alarming disparity stems from genetic history, socioeconomic factors, and unequal access to care.

The American Cancer Society recommends Black men schedule PSA screenings at age 45, five years earlier than other groups.

“We’ve got to make sure to get the word out about prostate cancer screenings,” Dr. John Stewart, chief of surgery for Morehouse School of Medicine at Grady Health System, said in a press release. “As Black men, we aren’t exactly fond of interactions with the medical system. We see it in prostate cancer, we see it in colonoscopy screenings. We have to create a better agenda for men’s health in our community.”

Where to get screened

To receive a prostate screening, and get more involved in the fight to end the disparities, check out these upcoming events in Atlanta:

Check here for more mobile screening events.

What to expect during mobile prostate screening

Emory’s mobile clinic features private spaces for testing staffed by Emory technicians and is designed to improve early detection rates, reduce disparities such as cost and transportation.

Once inside the mobile unit, patients receive a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test via blood draw to measure PSA levels in the blood. PSA is a protein made by cells in the prostate gland. Elevated PSA may be a sign of prostate cancer or other prostate-related issues.

Test results are available on-site within one hour or can be confidentially shared through MyChart, Emory Healthcare’s electronic patient portal, or by phone within five days. Results can also be mailed.

After the test, if follow-up care is needed, the Emory team will outline treatment steps.

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Angela Burt-Murray is Capital B Atlanta's editor