Griffin to host community health fair at St. Michael Church in Beacon Falls

BEACON FALLS - Griffin Health will host a Community Health Fair Oct. 25 from 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at St. Michael Church, 25 Maple Ave..

The event will feature a flu vaccination clinic, free diabetes and blood pressure screenings, and wellness information presented by caregivers from several Griffin Health services, including women’s health and breast health. 

Attendees can also learn about additional community health services, including Dynamic Smiles Orthodontics, Life Coaching Ministries of CT INC, wellness information from the Naugatuck Valley Health District, and Medicare assistance by Figlar Insurance.

The fair is a wonderful opportunity for attendees to learn about Griffin Health’s free wellness programs and its exceptional, person-centered care. It is open to individuals of all ages. 

This is a press release from Griffin Health.

Ansonia Senior Center to hold health and wellness fair

 

Save the date: Health fair slated at Life, Health, and Wellness Center in Ansonia

 

Griffin Hospital in Derby to offer facial skin screenings, raise awareness

DERBY - Griffin Hospital is raising skin cancer awareness and helping individuals protect themselves and their loved ones with free facial skin screenings Dec. 13 at The Center for Cancer Care, 350 Seymour Ave. 

Appointments are available between 3-5 p.m. and reservations are required by calling The Center for Cancer Care at 203-732-1260.

Facial skin screenings will be conducted by a registered nurse from Griffin’s Community Outreach to show sun damage and detect abnormalities that could be a sign of potential skin cancer. 

Oncology Nurse Navigator Melissa Gramigna, RN, BSN, will assist with referrals to a dermatologist if needed.

According to the American Cancer Society, skin cancer is the most common of all cancers. Melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, account for approximately 100,000 cases of skin cancer and more nearly 8,000 cancer deaths annually.

Risk factors for non-melanoma and melanoma skin cancers include: 

• Unprotected and/or excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation (sunlight or tanning booths)
• Pale skin (easily sunburned, doesn’t tan much or at all, natural red or blond hair)
• Occupational exposures to coal tar, pitch, creosote, arsenic compounds, or radium
• You or other members of your family have had skin cancers
• Multiple or unusual moles
• Severe sunburns in the past

Skin cancer can be found and treated early by looking for these symptoms:

• Any change on your skin, especially in the size or color of a mole, growth, or spot, or a new growth (even if it has no color)
• Scaliness, oozing, bleeding, or a change in the way a bump or nodule looks
• The spread of pigmentation (color) beyond its border, such as dark coloring that spreads past the edge of a mole or mark 
• A change in sensation, such as itchiness, tenderness, or pain

Some symptoms are not as noticeable, so skin cancer screenings are advised. 

If you have any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately or visit griffinhealth.org to find a local dermatologist.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Griffin Hospital in Derby to offer free facial skin screenings, raise cancer awareness

Contributed photo

DERBY - Griffin Hospital is raising skin cancer awareness and helping individuals protect themselves and their loved ones with free facial skin screenings Dec. 15 at The Center for Cancer Care, 350 Seymour Ave.

Appointments are available between 3-5 p.m. Reservations are required by calling The Center for Cancer Care at 203-732-1260.

Facial skin screenings will be conducted by a registered nurse from Griffin’s Community Outreach to show sun damage and detect abnormalities that could be a sign of potential skin cancer. 

Oncology Nurse Navigator Catherine Voccia, RN, BSN, OCN, CN-BN, will assist with referrals to a dermatologist if needed.

According to the American Cancer Society, skin cancer is the most common of all cancers. Melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, account for more than 100,000 cases of skin cancer and more than 7,000 cancer deaths annually. 

Risk factors for non-melanoma and melanoma skin cancers include: 

• Unprotected and/or excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation (sunlight or tanning booths)
• Pale skin (easily sunburned, doesn’t tan much or at all, natural red or blond hair)
• Occupational exposures to coal tar, pitch, creosote, arsenic compounds, or radium
• You or other members of your family have had skin cancers
• Multiple or unusual moles
• Severe sunburns in the past

Skin cancer can be found and treated early by looking for these symptoms:

• Any change on your skin, especially in the size or color of a mole, growth, or spot, or a new growth (even if it has no color)
• Scaliness, oozing, bleeding, or a change in the way a bump or nodule looks
• The spread of pigmentation (color) beyond its border, such as dark coloring that spreads past the edge of a mole or mark 
• A change in sensation, such as itchiness, tenderness, or pain

Some symptoms are not as noticeable, so skin cancer screenings are advised. 

If you have any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately or visit griffinhealth.org to find a local dermatologist.

 

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Griffin Hospital in Derby to host free prostate cancer screenings

DERBY - Griffin Health will host free prostate cancer screenings from 4-6 p.m. Sept. 15 at the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital, 350 Seymour Ave.

Prostate cancer screenings are recommended for men at 50 years old. 

Men at higher risk, including African American men and men who have a first-degree relative (father or brother) diagnosed with prostate cancer before age 65, should be screened at age 45. 

Men at a very high risk (multiple family members diagnosed with prostate cancer before age 65 years) should be tested at age 40.

“Identifying prostate cancer early before patients have symptoms is our best chance to cure their disease,” said Radiation Oncologist Dr. Sanjay Aneja. “Screening programs are an inexpensive and non-invasive way to identify men who have treatable prostate cancer before they have symptoms. It’s unfortunate that prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death among men because we have excellent treatment options which, if initiated early enough, can provide patients with a cure.”

The screening will take 10-15 minutes. Space for the free screenings is limited, so early registration is encouraged. 

To register, call 203-732-1280.

About Prostate Cancer

Approximately 1 in 8 men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. As with most cancers, early diagnosis is important to improve chances of cure. Screening, although controversial, is important because early prostate cancer usually causes no symptoms. 

There have been tremendous advances in the treatment of prostate cancer making treatments more effective and causing much less side effects.

For further information on your prostate health, contact your physician or call Griffin Faculty Physicians Urologists at 203-732-2651 or visit griffinfacultyphysicians.org.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Griffin Hospital in Derby offers free prostate cancer screenings

DERBY - Griffin Hospital and the Health Initiative for Men (HiM) will host free prostate cancer screenings from 4-6 p.m. Nov. 30 at the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital, 350 Seymour Ave.

Prostate cancer screenings are recommended for men at 50 years old. 

Men at higher risk, including African American men and men who have a first-degree relative (father or brother) diagnosed with prostate cancer before age 65, should be screened at age 45. 

Men at a very high risk (multiple family members diagnosed with prostate cancer before age 65 years) should receive be tested at age 40.

Participants will receive a “Free Play” coupon for the Sports Center of Connecticut in Shelton and will be entered into a raffle for a Sports Center gift card. 

The screening is sponsored by Griffin’s Health Initiative for Men (HiM), which encourages men to have an annual physical and to raise awareness about men’s health issues such as prostate cancer and colorectal cancer.

“We strongly encourage the men in our community to take advantage of these free screenings,” said Dr. Joseph Camilleri, Urologist, Griffin Faculty Physicians, “As the second-leading cancer killer in men, prostate cancer is a serious disease, but it can be successfully treated if caught at an early stage. This event will be a combination of preventative screening and education, so men know what symptoms to look for and they can share this information with friends, family and neighbors.”

The screening will take 10-15 minutes. Space for the free screenings is limited; early registration is encouraged. 

To register, call 203-732-1280.

About Prostate Cancer
Approximately 1 in 7 men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. As with most cancers, early diagnosis is important to improve chances of cure. Screening, although controversial, is important because early prostate cancer usually causes no symptoms.

There have been tremendous advances in the treatment of prostate cancer making treatments more effective and causing much less side effects.

For further information on your prostate health, contact your physician or call Griffin Faculty Physicians Urologists at (203) 732-2651 or visit griffinfacultyphysicians.org.


This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

TEAM, Inc. now holding enrollment for Early Childhood Program

 

BHcare's Alliance awarded $50K to prevent youth opioid abuse in 3 cities

5-year grant funds training for parents, educators, health-care providers, more 

 

ANSONIA - BHcare’s Alliance for Prevention & Wellness has been chosen as a recipient of a five-year, $50,000 grant from the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act to address youth substance use in Ansonia, Derby, and Shelton. 

These towns have been identified as being in the heart of the DEA-designated high intensity drug trafficking area of south central Connecticut.

Opioid overdose fatalities in Ansonia and Derby exceeded the national rate every year from 2014 to 2018. 

More recent data shows the Ansonia rate has more than doubled, and the Shelton rate increased by 76 percent during 2018-2020. “These data provide good reason to worry about the environment in which middle and high school students in the three towns are growing to adulthood,” said Pam Mautte, director of Alliance for Prevention and Wellness.

APW’s goals are to prevent and reduce the abuse of opioids and prescription medications in the three towns. 

They will utilize the Community Anti-Drug Coalition’s Seven Strategies for Community Change to implement the Lower Naugatuck Valley Opioid Prevention Project. 

Some of the initiatives will include training and education to parents, school staff, health care providers, and faith communities; promoting the safe disposal of unused drugs in the communities; youth education and peer-to-peer learning for students; screenings; and other community-based strategies.

The CARA Program is located within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Center for Injury Prevention and Control, in the Drug-Free Communities Branch. 

The purpose is to enhance the efforts of current or former Drug-Free Communities recipients to prevent opioid, methamphetamine, and/or prescription drug use among youth ages 12-18 in communities throughout the United States. 

This program also seeks to change the culture and context regarding the acceptability of youth use and misuse of these substances.

The Alliance for Prevention & Wellness, a program of BHcare, is the Regional Behavioral Health Action Organization for the DMHAS Region II service area. 

APW’s mission is to foster positive mental health by preventing substance misuse and other health-risk behaviors, and by building resources that promote wellness. 

For more information, visit APW-CT.org.

This is a press release from BHcare.

Griffin Health in Derby to host Pride Month celebration Sunday

 

DERBY - The celebration will be held at The Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness, 350 Seymour Ave. 

The event will feature:

• Information and education from physicians and providers with expertise in caring for the LGBTQ+ community
• Community guests such as the Connecticut Gay Men’s Chorus and the New Haven Pride Center
• A1C, cholesterol and blood pressure screenings
• A healthy cooking demonstration

Griffin Hospital in Derby recognized for workplace health achievement

DERBY - Griffin Health recently achieved Gold Level recognition in the American Heart Association 2019 Workplace Health Achievement Index for taking significant steps to build a culture of health in the workplace.

Griffin’s employee wellness program, AgeLess, focuses on the four pillars of well-being – physical, nutritional, emotional, and financial. The program offers free and low-cost programs and information for each pillar to help employees “age less, and live more.”

Offerings include free therapy sessions, free smoking cessation programs, lifestyle change programs, chronic disease management, diabetes prevention, nutritional counseling and lessons on achieving financial stability.

The American Heart Association created the Index with its CEO Roundtable, a leadership collaborative of more than 40 CEOs from some of America’s largest companies who are committed to applying evidence-based approaches to improve their employees’ overall health. The Index uses science-based best practices to evaluate the overall quality and comprehensiveness of their workplace health programs.  

Studies show that work sites with a culture of health with comprehensive, evidence-based policies and programs, and senior leadership support are more likely to have engaged employees and a healthier, more productive workforce.

A unique feature of the Index is that it calculates an average heart health score for employees of participating companies that securely submit aggregate health data. Companies receive benchmarking reports, which allow them to identify potential areas of improvement so they can advance their annual performance and recognition.

As part of its commitment to healthier workplaces, the American Heart Association offers Health Screening Services, an on site biometric screening solution which allows organizations to collect and submit employee health data seamlessly. 

The health screenings are combined with a health assessment and education to motivate participants to make behavior changes or seek support for lifestyle changes and follow-up medical care as appropriate. 

The American Heart Association’s Workplace Health Solutions offers a suite of evidence-based tools to help optimize current employee health programs. 

These tools leverage the science behind the Index while improving consumer engagement and promoting healthier behaviors. 

For more information, visit www.heart.org/workplacehealth. 

About the American Heart Association 

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. 

The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for nearly a century. 

Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, Twitter, or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital. 

Rochelle to host Future Fair at Emmett O'Brien Tech in Ansonia

Griffin Hospital in Derby to offer diabetic foot screenings * Updated

From Griffin Hospital:
PLEASE NOTE – The press release sent last week had the wrong date for this screening. It is Thurs., Nov. 14 NOT Fri., Nov. 15.

The Comprehensive Wound Care Center at Griffin Hospital will host a free diabetic foot screening event Nov. 14. /Contributed photo  

DERBY - The Comprehensive Wound Care Center at Griffin Hospital, 130 Division St., is offering individuals diagnosed with diabetes free help with taking care of their feet.

From 5-7 p.m. Nov.14, the Center will host a free diabetic foot screening event at the hospital. 
Each screening will take about 10 minutes and will include consultation with a podiatrist if needed. 
The screenings will be first come, first served, however registration is required by visiting the Griffin Hospital events calendar at griffinhealth.org/events or by calling 203-732-1511. 
For any questions, call the Center at 203-732-7140.

Foot problems are common with diabetes. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes cause damage to blood vessels and peripheral nerves that can result in peripheral artery disease and peripheral neuropathy.

Due to the decreased sensation from nerve damage and the lack of oxygen being delivered to the feet, people with diabetes have an increased risk of ulcers as well as bunions, corns, calluses, hammertoes, fungal infections, dryness of the skin, and ingrown toenails. 
These problems are not specific to diabetes, but can occur more commonly due to the nerve and vascular damage. If these foot problems are not properly checked or treated, individuals may suffer from tissue death due to absence of blood circulation or a life-threatening bacterial infection.

Diabetic foot screening can help determine risk factors early, and reduce amputations and ulcerations. Studies have shown that early detection and intervention may prevent up to 85 percent of amputations in diabetic patients.

Symptoms of foot problems include feeling a burning sensation, feeling “pins and needles” frequently, corns and toenail problems.

Individuals diagnosed with diabetes who experience the following should contact a physician immediately:

• Open wounds and any ulcers.
• Areas of bluish/black skin.
• Ingrown toe nails with or without discharge.
• Red and hot skin (may include swelling)

About the Comprehensive Wound Healing Center at Griffin Hospital

The Comprehensive Wound Healing Center helps patients with chronic, non-healing wounds by offering highly effective treatment for a variety of chronic wounds, including: Diabetic foot ulcers; Radiation injury to tissue and bone; Compromised skin grafts; and Pressure ulcers. The Center provides a comprehensive range of services that are specifically designed to help promote wound healing, including:

• Extensive wound assessment

• Pain management

• Debridement

• Compression therapy

• Patient education

• Infection management

• Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Griffin Hospital wound center in Derby screens 15 for diabetic foot issues

The Comprehensive Wound Care Center at Griffin Hospital recently gave free foot screenings to 15 individuals diagnosed with diabetes./ Contributed photo

DERBY - The Comprehensive Wound Care Center at Griffin Hospital recently gave free diabetic foot screenings to 15 individuals.

Podiatrist Dr. Luke Jeffries, of Yale Podiatry Group volunteered to conduct the screenings along with members of the Comprehensive Wound Care Center. 

Three individuals were referred to podiatrists for follow-up tests.

Most of the participants were diagnosed with diabetes for more than five years. 

The clinicians conducting the screenings discovered that none of the participants had received education on proper foot care prior to the screening.

 “We were more than a little surprised that none of the participants had been educated on the importance of good foot care,” said Liza Mecca, BA, RRT, AE-C, Director of the Wound Care Center. “All of the people we screened were very happy to learn about foot hygiene, how to select proper-fitting shoes, and how to inspect their feet.”

Foot problems are common with diabetes. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes cause damage to blood vessels and peripheral nerves that can result in peripheral artery disease and peripheral neuropathy.

Due to the decreased sensation from nerve damage and the lack of oxygen being delivered to the feet, people with diabetes have an increased risk of ulcers as well as bunions, corns, calluses, hammertoes, fungal infections, dryness of the skin, and ingrown toenails. These problems are not specific to diabetes, but can occur more commonly due to the nerve and vascular damage. If these foot problems are not properly checked or treated, individuals may suffer from tissue death due to absence of blood circulation or a life-threatening bacterial infection.

Diabetic foot screening can help determine risk factors early, and reduce amputations and ulcerations. Studies have shown that early detection and intervention may prevent up to 85% of amputations in diabetic patients.

About the Comprehensive Wound Healing Center at Griffin Hospital

The Comprehensive Wound Healing Center helps patients with chronic, non-healing wounds by offering highly effective treatment for a variety of chronic wounds, including: Diabetic foot ulcers; Radiation injury to tissue and bone; Compromised skin grafts; and Pressure ulcers. The Center provides a comprehensive range of services that are specifically designed to help promote wound healing, including:

• Extensive wound assessment

• Pain management

• Debridement

• Compression therapy

• Patient education

• Infection management

• Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Griffin Hospital in Derby to offer free oral, head, neck cancer screenings

DERBY - Griffin Hospital will offer free oral, head, and neck cancer screenings from 4-6 p.m. April 11 at the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital, 350 Seymour Ave.

This is the eighth straight year Griffin has offered the free screenings to the community. Held during Oral, Head, and Neck Cancer Awareness Week®, the free screenings aim to catch cancers that arise in the nasal cavity, sinuses, lips, mouth, thyroid glands, salivary glands, throat or larynx (voice box) at an early, and treatable stage.

“Griffin Hospital urges our community members to participate in our free head and neck screening,” said Dr. Joseph Cardinale, Medical Director of Radiation Oncology at Griffin Hospital. “Individuals will receive a thorough exam and learn more of the symptoms of head and neck cancers, which include a lump or a sore that does not heal, a sore throat that does not go away, difficulty in swallowing, and a change or hoarseness in the voice. These symptoms may also be caused by other, less serious conditions. However, it’s important to get screened right away. For our community members who are tobacco users or who have a higher risk of contracting human papillomavirus (HPV) due to having multiple partners, we strongly urge each individual to get screened as both are high risk factors for oral, head and neck cancers.”

The screening is painless and takes about 10 minutes. Space for the free screenings is limited; early registration is encouraged. To register, call 203-732-1280.

The Head and Neck Cancer Alliance estimates that there will be more than 550,000 new cases of oral, head and neck cancer diagnosed worldwide in 2019, and many individuals will not be aware of their cancer until it has reached an advanced stage. Oral, head and neck cancer is now ranked in the top six cancers worldwide.

Last year, 63 individuals were screened at the Center. As a result of the screenings, four individuals were referred for further evaluation.

About Oral Head and Neck Cancer

Most oral cancers arise on the lips, tongue or the floor of the mouth. They also may occur inside the cheeks, on the gums or on the roof of the mouth. Oropharyngeal cancers related to HPV are often found in the tonsil or base of tongue. Other head and neck cancers arise from the voice box or throat, or from salivary (spit) glands or the thyroid gland.

Some early signs and symptoms include:
A red or white spot in your mouth that doesn't heal or that increases in size
Sore throat or swollen tonsil
Changes in your voice
A lump in your neck
Earache
Difficulty swallowing

Tobacco (including smokeless tobacco) and alcohol use are very high risk factors for oral, head and neck cancers, particularly those of the tongue, mouth, throat and voice box. People who use both tobacco and alcohol are at greater risk for developing these cancers than people who use either tobacco or alcohol alone. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) has recently emerged as having a connection to oropharyngeal (tonsil and base of tongue) cancer, particularly in non-smokers and younger age groups.

While anyone can develop thyroid cancers, a family history or exposure to radiation is considered a risk factor that may increase the risk. Most salivary gland cancers do not seem to be associated with any particular cause.

If you have any of these warning signs, do not wait for the free screenings. Contact your physician or call the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital at 203-732-1280.

Griffin Hospital in Derby provides prostate cancer screenings for 23

Dr. Joseph Cardinale, back center, and Dr. Joyce Chung, far right, of The Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital, and resident physicians at Griffin, recently provided 23 free prostate cancer screenings to help encourage men to get checked for the disease./ Contributed photo

DERBY - The Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital recently provided 23 free prostate cancer screenings to help encourage men to get checked for the disease and to increase men’s health awareness.

This is the second year Griffin has offered these free screenings to the community. 
Participating physicians included Dr. Joseph Cardinale, of the Center for Cancer Care, and Drs. Grace Biggs and Joseph Camilleri, of Griffin Faculty Practice Urology, and residents at Griffin Hospital. 
The event was sponsored by the Health Initiative for Men (HiM).
As a result of the screenings, two men were referred for further testing.
“Being screened for prostate cancer is a critical part of men’s health,” said HiM Co-founder Frank Michaud. “Prostate cancer is the second-leading cancer killer in men, however it can be successfully treated if caught early. We hope the men who took part in this screening go home and encourage to get tested.”

According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer screenings are recommended for men at 50 years old. Men at higher risk, including African-American men and men who have a first-degree relative (father or brother) diagnosed with prostate cancer before age 65, should be screened at age 45. Men at a very high risk (multiple family members diagnosed with prostate cancer before age 65) should be tested at age 40.
“We’re proud to partner with Griffin Hospital for this important event and encourage men to get their annual check-up to learn more about their overall health and see what screenings they may need to catch potential diseases at a treatable stage,” said HiM Co-founder Judy Michaud.
If you or someone you know is due for a prostate cancer screening, contact your physician, call Griffin Faculty Physicians, 1-800-382-0903, or visit griffinfacultyphysicians.org.

For more information about men’s health, including a “check-up list” for screenings, visit Griffin Hospital’s Health Initiative for Men website, griffinhealth.org/him.


This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Logan receives award for advocacy of breast cancer patients

State Sen. George S. Logan

NEW HAVEN -The Radiological Society of Connecticut (www.ctrad.org) has honored state Sen. George S. Logan, R-Ansonia, for his advocacy of patients and legislation that will encourage women to have life-saving breast cancer screenings. 

The group gave Logan their “Patient Hero” award at its semi-annual meeting in New Haven last month.
Logan, who serves as Vice-Chair of the state legislature’s Public Health Committee, was a strong supporter of House Bill 5208 this past session. Titled An Act Concerning Mammograms, Breast Ultrasounds and Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Breasts, the legislation will enable women to have their annual breast exam using the latest technology without having to pay a deductible or copay.

The technology is called Breast Tomosynthesis, a three dimensional mammogram, which enables the radiologist to better determine if small cancers are present in the breast. The test has been shown to reduce by 40 percent patient callbacks for an additional test due to the uncertainty of images. 

“This legislation is critical for our ability to make sure that patients continue to have access to these needed mammography tests,” Alan Kaye, MD, president of the RSC, said.

House Bill 5208 resolves a “glitch” in the current law. Because Breast Tomosynthesis has a separate code than mammography, it has been deemed to not be a mammogram for insurance reimbursement purposes. 

This has meant a woman is charged a deductible or co-pay for the test, even though it is preventive in nature and should come at no cost to the patient in her annual screening.

The RSC thanked Logan for showing a “significant knowledge” of health care policy and for using that knowledge to benefit patients.

The legislation passed both the House and Senate this year and was signed into law by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy as Public Act 18-159. It is effective Jan. 1, 2019.

Logan represents Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Derby, Hamden, Naugatuck, and Woodbridge.

He can be reached at George.Logan@cga.ct.gov and at 800-842-1421.
On the web: www.SenatorGeorgeLogan.com.

This is a press release from Logan's office.

Griffin Hospital in Derby to hold prostate cancer screenings

 Griffin Hospital will offer free prostate cancer screenings Oct. 17 at the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin./ Contributed photo

DERBY - Griffin Hospital will host free prostate cancer screenings with a sports tailgate feel from 4-6 p.m. Oct. 17 at the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital, 350 Seymour Ave.

Prostate cancer screenings are recommended for men at 50 years old. Men at higher risk, including African-American men and men who have a first-degree relative (father or brother) diagnosed with prostate cancer before age 65, should be screened at age 45. 

Men at a very high risk (multiple family members diagnosed with prostate cancer before age 65 years) should be tested at age 40.

In addition to the screenings, participants and family members can enjoy a tailgate party buffet at the Center for Cancer Care. 

The screening is sponsored by Griffin’s Health Initiative for Men (HiM), which encourages men to have an annual physical and to raise awareness about men’s health issues such as prostate cancer and colorectal cancer.

“We strongly encourage the men in our community to take advantage of these free screenings,” said Dr. Joseph Camilleri, Urologist, Griffin Faculty Physicians.“As the second-leading cancer killer in men, prostate cancer is a serious disease, but it can be successfully treated if caught at an early stage. This event will be a combination of preventative screening and education, so men know what symptoms to look for and they can share this information with friends, family and neighbors.”

The screening will take 10-15 minutes. Space for the free screenings is limited, so early registration is encouraged. 

To register, call 203-732-1280.

About Prostate Cancer

Approximately 1 in 7 men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. As with most cancers, early diagnosis is important to improve chances of cure. Screening, although controversial, is important because early prostate cancer usually causes no symptoms. 

There have been tremendous advances in the treatment of prostate cancer making treatments more effective and causing much less side effects. 

For further information on your prostate health, contact your physician or call Griffin Faculty Physicians Urologists at (203) 732-2651 or visit griffinfacultyphysicians.org.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital. 

Griffin Parish Nurses to offer screenings at Seymour Public Library

The Library is at 46 Church St., Seymour.