Mount Sinai Health Systems is bringing the doctor to the patient with its new van intended to help detect prostate cancer early.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers for American men, according to the CDC.

What You Need To Know

  • The American Cancer Society recommends that men get tested for the disease at age 50

  • Black men, who researchers say contract prostate cancer younger than the male population at large, and at a higher rate, should get tested at 45

  • In the eight months the van’s been up and running, it’s racked up about 5,000 miles, and screened around 2,000 men

“If I didn't see that truck, I probably never would have done it,” said prostate cancer survivor John Solomon.

Solomon stumbled upon Mt. Sinai’s prostate cancer screening van one day while running errands.

A technician administered a blood test, and days later the results raised a red flag for doctors.

The follow-up appointment revealed prostate cancer.

"It’s frightening," Solomon said.

Three months later in August of last year, surgeons removed his prostate and all of the cancer.

Cancer is something that runs in Solomon’s family. But at 60 years old he had never had a cancer screening.

“When it comes to cancer, it’s almost like a hush, hush. You just don’t talk about it,” Solomon said.

For men at average risk for the disease, the American Cancer Society recommends getting tested at age 50. But for those at high risk, like Black men, who researchers say contract prostate cancer younger than the male population at large, and at a higher rate, should get tested at 45.

“Every week I go through the feeling, ‘I wish I had seen him in 2020, I wish I had seen him in 2019.,’” said Surgeon-in-Chief at Mount Sinai Tish Cancer Center Dr. Ash Tewari.

Tewari decided to take action, getting Mount Sinai’s Tisch Cancer Center to bring doctors to potential patients with the van to urge people to get tested sooner.

“If they are reluctant for one reason or another to come to the medical field, medical doctors, if we show up to your place, do you think that will make it easier?” Tewari said.

It turns out it does. In the eight months the van’s been up and running, it’s racked up about 5,000 miles, and screened around 2,000 men. About 15% of those screened had high test results.

“Not only needed a second check-up. Some needed a biopsy — a normal PSA should be two, three, four, five, people had PSA’s 20, 30, 40, above 100,” Tewari said.

Now Solomon has another battle, getting his family to agree to testing. Despite the prevalence of cancer in his family, and Solomon's own diagnosis, his twin brother is hesitant to get tested.

“If you don’t know then you don’t have it, for some reason, I think it’s a psychological thing, like if you don’t see it, it’s not going to affect you,” Solomon said.

It’s a kind of denial that Solomon and Tewari hope to change.

Insurance is not required for a test.