Harris County Public Health, Texas Southern University Partner to Offer Free Screenings on Sept. 13 

September marks Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, and Harris County Public Health (HCPH) is urging men to take charge of their health through education and screening. Prostate cancer is a serious disease, but when detected early, the five-year relative survival rate is nearly 100%.

According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in the U.S. and the second-leading cause of cancer death, behind only lung cancer. An estimated 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.

“The statistics show us that early detection is critical,” says Dr. Ericka Brown, Local Health Authority for HCPH. “Prostate cancer often has no symptoms in its early stages. This is why men must have open conversations with their healthcare provider about their risk and when to start screening. A simple blood test, known as the PSA test, can be a lifesaving first step.”

Free Prostate Cancer Screening Event

To make screening more accessible, HCPH is partnering with Texas Southern University to offer free prostate cancer screenings.

  • When: Saturday, Sept. 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Where: Progressive New Hope Church, 3106 Paige Street, Houston, TX 77004

No appointment is needed. Screenings are provided on a first-come, first-served basis; early arrival is encouraged.

Understanding Risk and Taking Action

While all men are at risk, some groups face a higher risk. The risk for prostate cancer increases with age, with most cases diagnosed in men aged 65 or older.

  • Black men and men of African ancestry have a significantly higher risk of developing prostate cancer and are more than twice as likely to die from the disease compared to white men.
  • Men with a family history of prostate cancer are at a higher risk.

HCPH encourages men to understand their personal risk factors. Men with an average risk should discuss screening with their doctor starting at age 55. However, men at higher risk—including all Black men and those with a family history—should begin this conversation earlier, around their 40s.

HCPH also offers wellness exams and other services for men at its Health Services clinics throughout the county. For more information about these services, as well as the prostate cancer screening event on Sept. 13, call (832) 927-7350 or visit hcphtx.org/HealthServices.