The MAN VAN®: Bringing Free Men’s Health Checks to Alberta Communities

(Alberta) – In Alberta, one in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. Early detection of the disease is key in ensuring positive outcomes for those affected but given this type of cancer often shows no symptoms, a new approach to testing was urgently needed to encourage men to get screened earlier and often.

Established in 2009, the MAN VAN® is Canada’s first mobile men’s health clinic, operating with one goal: save men’s lives. The clinic offers PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) blood testing for men aged 40 to 70, with no appointment needed.

Funded by community, for the community, these simple blood tests are quick, free, and require no identification. Bloodwork is sent directly to the Prostate Cancer Centre certified lab for testing and results are provided within the week.

In a province where 15 percent of people don’t have a family doctor and 40 percent of men only visit a doctor when something is seriously wrong, the MAN VAN® meets men where they are. By travelling directly to communities and neighbourhoods, it reaches those who might not otherwise get checked for prostate cancer, especially in rural and Indigenous areas where access to healthcare can be limited.

With a fleet of three mobile clinics on the road and a fourth on the way, over 70,000 men have been tested in 175 communities across Alberta to date. In addition to PSA testing, the clinical team also offers mental wellness checks, screening for depression and suicide risk.

The process takes just 15 minutes, and it could save your life. For more information on finding a clinic in your local area, head to getchecked.ca