Only 14 men climbed into the MAN VAN to get tested for prostate cancer or other concerns when the mobile clinic came to Olds.
That's less than half the figure when the van came to Olds in 2015.
MAN VAN program manager Ken Rabb is unsure why the figure was so low this year.
Next year we may need to try a different location and/or time,” he said. “Any suggestions?”
The MAN VAN came to the Cow Palace Aug. 14.
One in seven men will be affected by prostate cancer in Alberta. It is the leading form of cancer diagnosed in Canadian men.
Rabb said men over 40 should get tested for prostate cancer every five years, while men over 50 should do it annually. This is because the incidence of prostate cancer increases with age.
There are two MAN VANs: one for Calgary and another for the rural areas in southern Alberta. The rural MAN VAN provides prostate cancer testing services to communities that may not have access to this kind of medical care otherwise.
“Men tend not to go to the doctor,” Rabb said. “We understand that men are notoriously bad at doing that.”
It's also easier for men to just walk in off the street when passing by, rather than book an appointment at a regular clinic.
The mobile clinics test for prostate cancer by taking a blood sample and making sure prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels are in the right range.
The rural MAN VAN that came to Olds also offered blood pressure, blood sugar and body mass index testing.
PSA is a protein released by the prostate gland. High levels of PSA indicate a growth in the prostate, which may be caused by cancer.
The MAN VANs are said to be the first and only mobile men's health clinics in Canada.
David Lunn is a retired biology teacher and a volunteer for the MAN VAN. He is also a prostate cancer survivor.
Lunn found out he had a hard prostate 10 years ago during an annual checkup. After discovering it was cancer, he opted to have surgery.
It left him with slight incontinence, but he still retained some bladder control and had no erectile dysfunction, unlike many prostate cancer survivors.
It's currently in the undetected range,” he said. “That means it's still clear.”
Lunn said getting tested by a MAN VAN earlier on could have made his treatment a lot smoother.
“With any cancer, early diagnosis is the answer.”
Both the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care and the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force recommend against the PSA screening because of the high rate of over-diagnosis.
However, Lunn said he is disappointed that both groups would condemn the test while offering no alternatives to it.
“To me, that's absolutely wrong-headed.”
The MAN VANs receive no government funding, meaning they are dependent on private donations and corporate sponsors. Each trip to an area outside of Calgary costs them around $3,000.
“The results you get are going to be just as good as any other medical facility,” Rabb said.
The MAN VANs have tested around 28,000 men for prostate cancer throughout Southern Alberta since 2009.
One of these mobile clinics will be in Sundre on Sept. 16. Prior to the Olds visit, a MAN VAN came to Carstairs in July.
