The Best Ever Dad’s Day Gift
Wracking your brain for the perfect dad's day gift? Forget the tie. Get your dad or hubby something that’ll really show him how much he's loved: a blood test. Yup, you read that right: a blood test. Make an appointment for him to have a simple PSA test that screens for prostate cancer. Then make sure he actually goes for it, with or without you.
This little two-minute test (in the arm, by the way, just so we're straight on that) could save his life. It did for a close friend of mine. Fit, active, and with no symptoms or family history whatsoever, this 52-year-old man’s prostate cancer was detected by a routine blood test during his annual physical. Fortunately, it was caught early and treated successfully. If he hadn’t had that PSA test when he did, the cancer would most likely have spread and the outcome would have been very, very different.
One in six men will get prostate cancer in his lifetime; about 235,000 Americans will be diagnosed with it this year. And as my example shows, it is not just a disease of the elderly, either.
So for this Father’s Day, give your dad or hubby the perfect one-size-fits-all, no-need-to-return-it gift: make him an appointment for the PSA blood test, and then, make sure he goes for it. No wrapping other than a teeny band-aid required, too.
PS: Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there. If you've already gone for your PSA test, then go ahead and tie one on.
Comments
One in six is a frightening statistic. Kudos to you for using Father's Day to remind us to protect the fathers we know!
Other frightening statistics...every half hour someone in this country is killed by a drunk driver. At this time of year, many of those killed are teenagers. Prom and graduation parties call for celebration and some parents decide that these are times when alcohol can be served to teens...a decision modeling unhealthy, unlawful behavior.
Alcohol is also a major factor in sexual assault. It's disturbing that 1 out of 4 girls (and 1 out of 8 boys) is sexually assaulted BEFORE the age of 18. It's also disturbing that so many are assaulted AT age 18 due to alcohol.
With Father's Day upon us, let's remember to remind those Dads of their PSA tests.
With it being prom and graduation season, let's remember that teen drinking is against the law and contributes to rape and death....and remind ourselves that adults need to act responsibly, whether it's getting a PSA test or saying no to kids.
Getting a PSA test saved my dad's life several years ago. He was also in his mid-fifties in great shape with no symptoms or family history. I can't imagine a life without him and I thank him for giving us the gift of getting tested. Happy Father's Day Dad!
