Elmhurst Hospital Center Holds Prostate Cancer Screenings

Elmhurst Hospital Center opened its doors to the community, offering men the opportunity to be screened for prostate cancer in recognition of National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month on Saturday, September 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Community Medical Center. Last year, 118 men were screened and 15 of them showed abnormal blood results telling providers that a prostate biopsy must be done for further cancer cell testing.

Approximately 200,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer and 32,000 of them die from the disease each year. Queens ranks second in the City with the highest number of newly diagnosed prostate cancer cases. According to Chris Constantino, Elmhurst Hospital Center executive director, there is an excellent survival rate for men who are diagnosed at an early stage for prostate cancer. "Our goal as a healthcare organization and at this event is to educate the public about the importance of early detection. If diagnosed early enough, men can be treated and cured from the disease. By encouraging men to be screened and providing them with educational literature, Elmhurst Hospital Center has the ability to play a major role in saving many lives," Constantino said.

Men who attended the event were given a blood test screening. They will be notified within one week with the results from their tests. If desired, followup care will be provided at Elmhurst Hospital Center at a later date. Men and their families also received free literature about prostate cancer and had the opportunity to speak with Elmhurst Hospital Center providers about the disease.

In addition to education, Elmhurst Hospital Center is also committed to enhancing its services offered to the community. Elmhurst Hospital Center was the first public hospital in all of New York to perform laparoscopic robotic surgery and remains the only institution in Queens to perform radical prostatectomies with the daVinci robot. With this technology, Elmhurst providers can perform surgery that is less invasive and safer for patients. Dr. Alfred Winkler, Elmhurst Hospital Center director of urology, was at the event to show visitors how the robot works and to answer any questions about prostate cancer.

Elmhurst Hospital Center is part of the Queens Health Network, affiliated with the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and is a member of the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation.