Nearly 300 men get prostate tested at Friendly Temple Church

Black men are urged to get their prostate tested
for the sake of their families and communities.

It was a sight to behold at Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church - men leading and encouraging men to get their prostate tested.


Senior Pastor Michael Jones lead the charge from the pulpit to the church's gym where a host of technicians from Quests Labs and BJK People's Health Centers administered PSA blood tests to a group of African-American men patiently waiting in line to be next.

“We’re stepping forward boldly and telling our sisters that we know how to take a stand,” Jones said. “We want to save brothers’ lives.”

Cynthia Rochester, a "prostate cancer survivor" was one of the organizers of the event through her Save Our Men Foundation. Her husband died from the disease 17 months ago at age 50. He never got tested. She urged men to get tested for the sake of their families and the communities they live in.

"There is no reason for use to be going through this like we are," she said. "We need to 'save our men.' "

When it was all said and done, 297 men received blood test during Prostate Testing Day Sunday April 29 at Friendly Temple.

"I've never had it done," said Parnell Gomire, 45, who was rolling his sleeve down following the procedure which told less than 5 minutes. "I've been meaning to do it, so I just decided today to get it out of the way."

Added John Taylor, 58: "My dad passed from prostate cancer in 2004; I thought it was a good idea for me to get tested."

Prostate testing day was part of the “2012 Save & Empower Our Men Church Tour” was sponsored by BJK People's Health Centers and Quest Labs and sponsored by The Empowerment Network, Save Our Men Foundation, 100 Black Men, Brain Storm Media Group and Friendly Temple. All testing was provided by the People's Health Center and Quest Diagnostic.

Black men, age 35+ were targeted for the blood test. Prostate Cancer rates among African American men are 60% higher than that of white men and Hispanic men. Black men are 2.5 times more likely to die from the disease. Prostate Cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in African American men.

According to The Empowerment Network website, the prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system. This gland makes and stores a component of semen and is located in the pelvis under the bladder and in front of the rectum. Prostate cancer forms in the tissues of the prostate. With the exception of skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common malignancy in men.

The test measures the levels of Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) protein produced by cells of the prostate gland. The higher a man’s PSA level, the more likely it is that cancer is present.

Early detection is the key slowing the incidents of prostate cancer. Research shows that if treated early, the survival rate is nearly 100%.

For more information about prostate cancer, call The Empowerment Network at 314.385.0998 or visit http://www.theempowermentnetwork.net/.