Cancer Survivor Brings Free Prostate Testing to New Bern

When you beat cancer, you don't forget the fear of not knowing. Now one prostate cancer survivor in New Bern is making sure other men get the early warning he wishes he'd had sooner.

This Friday, the community health advocate is leading a free PSA testing event open to all men in the area. The prostate-specific antigen test can detect signs of prostate cancer years before symptoms appear, when treatment is most effective.

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in American men, with one in eight diagnosed during their lifetime. Yet many men skip screening due to cost, embarrassment, or simply not knowing they need it.

That knowledge gap hits close to home for the event organizer, who survived his own prostate cancer diagnosis. His journey from patient to advocate shows how personal experience can spark community change.

The free testing removes the biggest barrier for many men: cost. PSA tests typically run $50 to $200 without insurance, putting preventive care out of reach for working families and uninsured residents.

The Ripple Effect

Free community health screenings do more than catch individual cases early. They normalize conversations about men's health in communities where talking about prostate issues often feels taboo.

When survivors step forward to organize events like this, they give other men permission to prioritize their health. That cultural shift can save lives beyond just the people who show up for testing.

Early detection makes prostate cancer one of the most treatable cancers, with a five-year survival rate above 97% when caught before spreading. A simple blood test on a Friday morning could mean decades more life for someone in New Bern.

New Bern residents interested in free PSA testing can attend the Friday event. One survivor's commitment to paying forward his second chance might just give someone else theirs.