RUSSELL — September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, and Bon Secours Kentucky Health System commemorated the occasion by announcing free upcoming prostate cancer screenings.

The free screenings will take place from 8:30 a.m- 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 25 at Bellefonte Urological Associates, 1000 Ashland Drive, Suite 302 on the campus of Our Lady of Bellefonte hospital.

Screening for prostate cancer involves a simple blood test and physical exam. Time needed for testing is brief, with most tests lasting approximately 10 minutes. Bellefonte Urological Associates is the practice of urologists Brian DeFade, D.O., and Jeremy R. Bonzo, M.D. For an appointment to the free screenings, contact the OLBH CareLine at 606-833-CARE (2273).

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed non-skin cancer in American men. The American Cancer Society’s estimates for prostate cancer in the United States for 2017 are approximately 161,360 new cases and 26,730 deaths.

Early prostate cancer has no symptoms, which is why screening is important. Men should start yearly screening for prostate cancer at age 50.

Men with one or more high risk factors should start yearly testing at 40. Higher risk men include African Americans and men who have a first-degree relative (father, brother, or son) diagnosed with prostate cancer at an early age (younger than age 65).

For information concerning Bon Secours Kentucky Health System or OLBH, visit BonSecours.com or call the OLBH CareLine at 606-833-CARE (2273).