Stand Up for Prostate Cancer Awareness

In September 2015, Russell Clayton had his yearly checkup. He requested a PSA blood test, which screens for prostate cancer. "My physician wasn't going to order the PSA test," he says. "I actually asked for it."

It is not ideal that Clayton, now 57, had to ask for the PSA test. As a man of African descent, he falls into the higher risk group for prostate cancer, and should have been getting regular screening starting in his forties - but Clayton is very glad that he got it. The elevated number on the PSA test led to a prostate biopsy, which found cancer.

Clayton had surgery and is now cancer-free. But that doesn't mean his journey was easy. "I have no family history of prostate cancer," Clayton says. "I felt terrible: shocked, depressed. I felt, 'Woe is me,' like I was going to die."

Russell is not alone — in fact, he's far from it. Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in America: one new case of prostate cancer develops every three minutes in the United States. But with early prevention it's 100% treatable, so it's crucial for men to receive regular PSA screenings. 

In honor of Prostate Cancer Awareness Month this September, add your name to pledge to spread awareness and prevent prostate cancer!