October 16, 2006, ST. LOUIS – As one of St. Louis'' most famous automobile dealers for over 40 years, Dave Sinclair says the experience has "made me watchful, but I never worry."

So after losing two friends to prostate cancer, Sinclair put that watchful nature to use in getting annual cancer screenings, specifically colonoscopy for colon cancer and a simple PSA test for prostate cancer.

"Those are two tests that can save you from a horrible death and possibly save you with a benign cure," says Sinclair, who at a youthful 78 uses that familiar voice to tell men what he considers frank advice: "If you don''t get these tests you''re stupid."

It''s advice that hits close to home for Sinclair, as he is a three-year prostate cancer survivor. After a PSA test in 2003 saved his life by finding prostate cancer in its beginning stages, Sinclair is making sure other lives are saved from one of the most curable cancers.

Sinclair will join the institution where he underwent prostate cancer treatment –the Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine – the Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital and the St. Louis Rams in offering a series of free PSA screenings at three Dave Sinclair locations in the St. Louis Metro area.

To help facilitate the Siteman Cancer Center in bringing easy access to the public, Sinclair will host the PSA screenings from 5-8 p.m. at three of his locations:

October 17
Sinclair Lincoln Mercury St. Peters
4760 North Service Road
St. Peters, MO 63376

November 7
Sinclair Lincoln Mercury West
15677 Manchester Rd.
Ellisville, MO 63011

November 14
Sinclair Buick GMC
5655 S. Lindbergh Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63123

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed non-skin cancer in the United States with one in six American men developing prostate cancer in the course of his lifetime. A PSA – or prostate specific antigen – test is a simple blood test looking at an enzyme produced in the prostate.

"The PSA is the critical element in early detection," says Gerald L. Andriole, MD, chief of urology at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine. "If your PSA level is high, your health care provider may recommend that you get a prostate biopsy to determine if you have cancer."

Currently, Siteman conducts the world''s largest single-institution prostate cancer screening study as part of the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial. In March 2005, their early results of the study found a combination of both the blood PSA test and the digital rectal exam appears to work best for detecting prostate cancer.

While prostate cancer slowed Sinclair down for a bit during treatment, he still oversees operations at the car dealerships that bear his name. In fact, at the Buick store at Lindbergh and Tesson Ferry, Sinclair keeps a desk right in the showroom to visit with customers.

"I have seven children and a good Irish wife named Patricia," says Sinclair. "I''m too busy to slow down."

Rams defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy and Rams cheerleaders will also be on hand at the Sinclair dealerships for autographs and photos. The PSA screenings are made possible through a partnership of the Siteman Cancer Center, American Family Insurance, the Rams Radio Network, and the Dave Sinclair Automotive Group. For more information, to register for the screening or for a free prostate cancer awareness kit, call 800-600-3606.

"The test is free and Barnes-Jewish Hospital is gonna do it," says Sinclair. "What more could you ask for?"

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