PARIS — Tom Chaney, facilities supervisor at Horizon Health, has a powerful message for men: Be sure to get your prostate checked regularly.
“Don’t wait. Please don’t go through what I went through,” he said.
Although Tom, 64, never missed his annual checkup, it was an employee wellness screening that revealed an elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level. Follow-up testing led to a diagnosis of Stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer. While the cancer had already spread beyond the prostate, the elevated PSA prompted further evaluation, leading to a timely diagnosis and the start of treatment.
Because of his experience, Tom encourages men to make an annual PSA test part of their routine healthcare.
“You need to get it every year because it doesn’t take very long for something to get out of hand,” said Tom, who had no symptoms indicating he had cancer. “If I hadn’t gotten mine checked, it would have been too late.”
Tom’s wife, Eunice, Horizon Health’s chief risk and privacy officer, praised Horizon Health employees for their support throughout Tom’s cancer journey.
“Staying positive is hard when you hear something negative,” she said. “But when you have so many positive people supporting you, it is amazing. I can’t stress enough the importance of getting your screenings.”
SCREENING SPECIAL
Through Oct. 2, Horizon Health is offering a specially priced PSA blood screening for $50. This is cash-pay only; insurance will not be billed. Screening hours are 1-6 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 7 a.m. to noon on Saturday at the Outpatient Lab on the Horizon Health main campus in Paris. No appointment is necessary — this is a walk-in special. Please register at the hospital registration desk upon arrival.
A PSA test is the primary screening tool for prostate cancer. It is a simple blood test that measures the level of PSA, a protein produced by the prostate gland. The test helps detect prostate cancer at an early stage and is also used to monitor men who have already been diagnosed with the disease.
“PSA screening is extremely easy and convenient,” Tom explained. “They take a blood sample and send you on your way.”
The American Cancer Society recommends that men at average risk for prostate cancer discuss the benefits and potential risks of PSA screening with their healthcare provider beginning at age 50.
Horizon Health’s urology team provides comprehensive care for conditions affecting the prostate and other urologic disorders. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 217-466-4661 or visit MyHorizonHealth.org/Urology.
Tom said he hopes sharing his story will encourage men to be proactive about their health.
“Men, get your prostate checked,” he said. “I hope my experience encourages others not to wait. If going through this helps even one person, then it was worth it.”