What to Expect When Visiting the Drive
The Drive Against Prostate Cancer is absolutely free, confidential and it doesn’t require you to have an appointment or insurance. It’s the way every doctor’s office ought to be!
When you get to the Drive, you will be greeted by one of our staff or volunteers who will walk you through the screening process. Most days onboard the Drive, men will experience little if any wait, which means you will be in and out in less than 20 minutes. The screening consists of a simple blood test (prostate specific antigen blood test) and an optional physical exam.
Pre-Screening Forms
Upon arrival, you will be asked to complete two forms to allow for the screening:
- You will be asked to sit at a computer station with one of our staff or volunteers who will help register you into our lab's system. They will ask you your name, date of birth, address, phone number, and email address.
- The other form is a consent form. This explains the tests you are consenting to, the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test and the physical exam.
During the Screening
The first step is to have your blood taken for the Prostate Specific Antigen or PSA test. One of our phlebotomists will draw your blood. The blood is later air-mailed to a processing center to determine your PSA score.
The final step is to see the physician for the physical exam. The physical consists of a digital rectal examination or DRE (when the doctor uses his index finger to quickly feel for irregularities on the surface of the prostate) and a brief discussion about your findings. The doctor records these findings on the patient requisition form and a copy is given to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the physical exam hurt?
No. it’s just mildly uncomfortable for up to 15 seconds. You can opt not to take the physical exam, however, ZERO and all other leading medical experts recommend a DRE along with the PSA blood test to more accurately determine if there is anything abnormal about your prostate.
What happens when I’m done?
When leaving, you’ll be given prostate cancer education literature and a free gift (if available). You can expect to receive your test results in four to six weeks through the U.S. Postal Service.
