About 299,000 men in the United States will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year, and about 35,000 men will die from the disease in 2024. “This is a very prevalent disease,” said Dr. Paul Kozlowski, urologist at Virginia Mason Franciscan Health (VMFH). “And this hits everybody - every walk of life, every income, every race - so it’s really important for people to know about it.” VMFH says men who are at average risk of prostate cancer should start screenings at age 50. For those at high risk of developing prostate cancer, including African American men and men who have a close relative who has been diagnosed, the age to start screening is 45. The prostate cancer screening is a blood test and prostate check and is simple and painless. These screenings save lives by catching cancer early, which leads to better treatment options and outcomes. VMFH and the Seattle Kraken teamed up as part of the Hockey Fights Cancer initiative, highlighting the importance of early detection. At the Hockey Fights Cancer Night at the Kraken game on November 20, VMFH offered prostate cancer blood tests for men and had physicians available to answer questions. They also recognized survivors and staff. “We are so appreciative of the Kraken to work with us on this event,” Dr. Kozlowski said. Kraken head coach Dan Bylsma even had his blood test done last week to demonstrate the ease of screening. “It’s very important for people who are in the public eye to show how easy it is and how important it is,” Dr. Kozlowski said. Dr. Kozlowski suggests talking with your primary care doctor about your cancer risk and the screenings you need. “The primary care physician will talk to them about what cancers they should be screened for and when they should be screened, what tests should be done and when,” he said. “Then they can get us as specialists, and we can take it from there.” Learn more about the Hockey Fights Cancer initiative and early detection on the Virginia Mason Franciscan Health website. Sponsored by Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Segment Producer Joseph Suttner. Watch New Day Northwest 11 a.m. weekdays on KING 5 and streaming live on KING5.com. Contact New Day.