ATLANTA — Prostate cancer is the second most common cause of death among men in the United States.
When it’s detected early, the survival rate is almost 100%.
So the Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University offered free screenings at Mercedes-Benz stadium with its mobile screening bus.
The Winship mobile bus launched a year ago for use across the metro Atlanta area.
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Similar to the Falcons, there’s big involvement in the bus from Arthur M. Blank.
The Home Depot co-founder and owner of the Falcons sponsored the bus through the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation.
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During Sunday’s Crucial Catch game at the Home Depot Backyard, Emory staff made their return to the field, with the mobile screening bus, to partner with the Atlanta Falcons and get people tested for free.
Winship also set up six more screening stations inside the stadium to ensure as many people could get tested as needed.
The free screenings only take five to 10 minutes using a simple blood test. Then, patients’ test results are sent to them through their MyChart account by the end of the day.
Winship also used the opportunity to teach attendees about breast cancer and lung cancer screening opportunities and let them speak with cancer survivors.
Willard Barnes, a patient and advocate, told Channel 2 Action News that the event was a way for him to help.
“On the other side of it now, I can see a light and I see that this is something I can do to reach out to others,” Barnes said.
Barnes and other took the field at half-time during the Falcons’ Crucial Catch to raise awareness for cancer screening.
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