Nearly 1,000 men tested in two years in annual prostate screening Continuing with its annual effort to reduce New Jersey's high incidence of prostate cancer, the Dean and Betty Gallo Prostate Cancer Center at The Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ), along with RobertWood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH),checked 460 men over a three-and-a-half day period during its annual prostate cancer screening, which just concluded,bringing the total over the last two years to nearly 1,000. The free examinations held on Sept.17, 18,19 and 29,were given to men 50 years and older with no history of prostate cancer and to those 40 years and older with a family history of the disease.Participants received a prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test and a digital rectum exam (DRE) during the program and also received educational material on early detection and prevention. One in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. It is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in men,other than skin cancer,and the second leading cause of cancer death in men.TheAmerican Cancer Society estimates that approximately 219,000 new cases of prostate cancer will occur in the United States this year,with the illness affecting moreAfricanAmerican men than those ofAsian or Caucasian descent. In New Jersey,8,070 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed,while 750 will die from the disease this year.Researchers at CINJ are currently investigating new ways to help prevent prostate cancer from recurring such as through the development of a vaccine for the disease. "Research has clearly shown that early detection of prostate cancer is vital in identifying the best course of treatment for patients,which in many cases can significantly improve their quality of life,"said Robert DiPaola,M.D.,chief,Division of Medical Oncology,executive director of the Dean and Betty Gallo Prostate Cancer Center and professor of medicine, UMNDJ-RobertWood Johnson Medical School. This is the fourth straight year that CINJ,RWJUH,New Brunswick-area clergy and community leaders joined forces to offer the free screenings.Last year's event saw 488 men.While word was spread through the traditional methods of media, posters and flyers,clergy members spoke to their congregations about it,and local storeowners passed word on to their patrons. "Outreach and education to the community are key in increasing the public's knowledge about the importance of early detection and prevention of prostate cancer," stated Betty Gallo,director of public outreach and government affairs for the Dean and Betty Gallo Prostate Cancer Center."We hope our efforts will save the lives of our fathers,grandfathers,brothers, sons and uncles as we work to encourage more men to get screened for prostate cancer." About The Cancer Institute of New Jersey The Cancer Institute of New Jersey is the state's first and only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center,and is dedicated to improving the prevention,detection, treatment and care of patients with cancer.CINJ's physician scientists engage in translational research, transforming their laboratory discoveries into clinical practice quite literally bringing research to life.The Cancer Institute of New Jersey is a center of excellence of UMDNJ-RobertWood Johnson Medical School.To support CINJ,call the Cancer Institute of New Jersey Foundation at (888) 333-CINJ. The Cancer Institute of New Jersey Network is comprised of hospitals throughout the state and provides a mechanism to rapidly disseminate important discoveries into the community.Partner Hospitals:RobertWood Johnson University Hospital,Atlantic Health (Morristown Memorial Hospital and Overlook Hospital). Affiliate Hospitals:Bayshore Community Hospital,CentraState Healthcare System,Cooper University Hospital*, Jersey Shore University Medical Center, JFK Medical Center,Raritan Bay Medical Center, RobertWood Johnson University Hospital at Hamilton (CINJ-Hamilton),Saint Peter's University Hospital,Somerset Medical Center,Southern Ocean County Hospital, The University Hospital/UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School,and University Medical Center at Princeton.