The Man Van Is Just Around The Corner At A New Location

Men attending Art in the Park in Vermilion this September will once again have an opportunity to take a few minutes out of their day to check on their health when the MAN VAN® returns to the community.

The mobile men’s health clinic will be set up at the Vermilion Ag Grounds, 5510 College Drive, on Saturday, September 12 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The clinic will offer free PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) blood tests to men between the ages of 40 and 70. No appointment or identification is required, and the testing process takes approximately 15 minutes.

The MAN VAN® visit is made possible with support from Inter Pipeline.

In Alberta, approximately one in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime. One of the concerns surrounding the disease is that it can develop without noticeable symptoms, making regular screening and early detection particularly important.

A PSA test measures the amount of prostate specific antigen present in a man’s blood. An elevated result does not automatically mean cancer is present, but it can alert health-care professionals that additional testing or investigation may be necessary.

While prostate cancer can affect any man, the risk increases with age. Family history can also increase the likelihood of developing the disease, and Black and Indigenous men have been identified as having a higher risk.

For many men, making time for routine health checks isn’t always a priority, particularly when they are feeling well. Bringing the clinic directly into communities gives men an opportunity to be tested without having to make a separate medical appointment.

The MAN VAN® has been travelling throughout Alberta since 2009 and was the first mobile men’s health clinic of its kind in Canada. Since the program began, more than 80,000 men have received testing during visits to 175 communities across the province.

Once a blood sample is collected, it is sent to the Prostate Cancer Centre’s certified laboratory for testing, with results generally available within five days.

The MAN VAN® also looks beyond prostate health. Its clinical team provides mental wellness checks, including screening for depression and suicide risk, as part of its efforts to provide more accessible health services for Alberta men.

Mobile services can be particularly valuable in smaller and rural communities where access to health care may be more limited. By setting up at community gatherings such as Art in the Park, the MAN VAN® gives men the chance to have a simple health check while they are already out enjoying a local event.

With prostate cancer often showing no symptoms in its early stages, men shouldn’t necessarily wait until something feels wrong before thinking about their prostate health.

Men between the ages of 40 and 70 are encouraged to stop by the MAN VAN® during Art in the Park at the Vermilion Ag Grounds on Saturday, September 12 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. A few minutes spent getting checked could provide important information about their health.