Prostate cancer stands as the most common cancer amongst men and represents the second leading cause of cancer death for men in the United States.
According to the American Cancer Society, one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime, and those numbers have been increasing. Recent research has found that more men are being diagnosed in advanced, harder-to-treat stages.
Screening involves a simple blood test, and men attending the Seattle Kraken game on 15 November can receive that test free of charge. As part of the NHL’s Hockey Fights Cancer night, the Kraken partnered with Virginia Mason Franciscan Health to offer blood tests at Climate Pledge Arena.
Steve Morrison, a prostate cancer survivor, encourages men to pursue testing even without symptoms.
“I’ve heard the term it’s an old man’s disease,” Morrison stated. “When we first found out, I’m like, what do you mean? I’m only 55.”
Only 55 years old and otherwise very healthy, Morrison is an accomplished runner with 12 marathons completed. He maintains good nutrition and had no health concerns. However, he discovered his diagnosis when his family urged him to get a routine checkup. His doctor conducted a blood test that included his prostate-specific antigen, or PSA.
“If you look at the American Urologic Association, they’re basically saying men age 45 and older, up to about age 69, should be screened,” stated Dr. Paul Kozlowski, a urologist at Virginia Mason Franciscan Health. “There is a group of people who are at high risk for prostate cancer. We know that those are men who have family members who have prostate cancer, particularly those family members who were diagnosed at a young age. We know that men in our African American community are also at increased risk. The people at high risk should probably start screening between the ages of 40 and 45.”
An elevated PSA does not necessarily indicate cancer or the need for treatment, and there is some debate surrounding screening. However, with new research finding a sharp rise in prostate cancer diagnoses in advanced stages, men should discuss screening with their doctors.
“It’s been shown time and again that when you catch a cancer early, you can intervene early. Early treatment means better survival, means better outcomes,” Kozlowski stated. “We always want to catch these cancers early.”
Morrison shares this message as well.
“We all have to take ownership of our health; it’s not someone else’s responsibility, it’s ours,” he stated. “And it’s really important for our family and our friends and ourselves that we do that.”
Six months after prostate cancer surgery, Morrison has returned to running. As he trains for a half-marathon with his daughter, he states he needs a positive, determined attitude to overcome obstacles and reach the finish line, much like he did in his cancer battle.
Men who are 40 years and older can find the Virginia Mason prostate cancer screening in the northwest corner of Climate Pledge Arena on 15 November. The free, rapid blood draws will be available through the end of the first intermission, with results mailed within a few weeks of the game.
The partnership between the Seattle Kraken and Virginia Mason Franciscan Health exemplifies how professional sports organisations increasingly leverage their platforms to promote public health initiatives beyond entertainment. Hockey Fights Cancer, an NHL-wide campaign, has evolved from awareness-raising activities to include tangible health services that remove barriers preventing men from accessing potentially life-saving screenings.
The venue-based screening model offers several advantages over traditional clinical settings. Climate Pledge Arena attendance creates a captive audience already engaged in leisure activity, reducing the psychological barriers that prevent men from scheduling separate medical appointments. The casual, social atmosphere of sporting events normalises health conversations amongst peer groups, potentially encouraging collective action where individual motivation might falter.
Morrison’s story illustrates the disconnect between perceived health status and actual disease presence. His athletic accomplishments, excellent nutrition, and absence of symptoms created false confidence that serious illness was unlikely. This narrative resonates with many men who associate cancer risk primarily with poor lifestyle choices or advanced age, overlooking the reality that prostate cancer can develop in apparently healthy individuals during middle age.
The family’s role in prompting Morrison’s initial checkup highlights the influence of social networks on health-seeking behaviour. Research consistently shows men are less likely than women to pursue preventive healthcare without external encouragement. Family members, particularly spouses and partners, often serve as crucial catalysts pushing reluctant men toward medical appointments that reveal undetected conditions.
