Cancer survivor is now an advocate for awareness [The Fayetteville Observer, N.C.]

May 30--LAURINBURG -- When Sam Tanner's request for additional life insurance was denied last year, he was a little surprised.

The Rockingham resident, who was then 78, had rarely been sick a day in his life. But during a routine physical, the life insurance company found that Tanner's prostate-antigen levels were too high to risk insuring him.

Doctors soon discovered that Tanner was suffering from early-stage prostate cancer.

Now, Tanner and a group of Laurinburg doctors are encouraging men to learn more about their health during a series of men's health awareness programs in Laurinburg.

On Saturday and June 12, free prostate cancer screenings will be offered at the Community Health and Rehabilitation Center at Scotland Memorial Hospital. The programs end with a free dinner and discussion of men's health issues on June 17.

For Tanner, it's all about getting other men to realize that treating prostate cancer doesn't have to be painful or embarrassing.

In fact, what sounded like a potentially frightening ordeal turned out to be a surprisingly wonderful experience, said Tanner, who was treated at Scotland Memorial.

Tanner, former owner of Tanner's Food Center in Rockingham, said his radiation treatments involved lying on a table for a few hours a day, five days a week, for eight weeks.

A computer-controlled linear accelerator delivers radiation doses to specific parts of the cancer, allowing doctors to target the affected areas and keep damage to other tissues to a minimum, said Dr. Chip Helms, a radiation oncologist at Scotland Memorial.

Sometimes, Tanner felt a little tired after his treatments, but that was the only real side effects, he said.

"I'll be honest with you," he said. "It was fun. It was getting out of the house. We had lunch. We made a day of it."

Scotland Memorial will offer free prostate screenings and digital rectal exams from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday and June 12 at the Community Health and Rehabilitation Center. To make an appointment, call (910) 291-7557.

On June 17, the hospital will host a forum on men's health, featuring a free buffet dinner, speaker Gray McCaskill and a panel of local doctors.

The forum begins at 5:30 p.m. To register, call (910) 291-7550.

Staff writer Jennifer Calhoun can be reached at calhounj@fayobserver.com or 486-3595.

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