Blood Test Detects Early Cancer, Saves Man's Life

By Amy Lester, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- During a blood donation, Andy McMinn paid $15 for an extra screening, a PSA test, to check for prostate cancer.

"At my age, I thought, ‘Well, I'm going to start doing it and once a year, I try to do it around my birthday,'" McMinn said.

Andy's test showed an elevated PSA level, and doctors later confirmed he had cancer.

"He said at the lab, ‘The biopsy came back and you have tested positive for cancer,'" McMinn said.

He started thinking about his life, his family, wondering if he'd live to see his grandkids grow up.

Then Andy went through surgery and had his prostate removed.
Now, he's cancer free.

"I believe it was a blessing it was found so soon," McMinn said.

He now encourages all men to ask for the PSA test, offered by the Oklahoma Blood Institute.

"We're glad that that can happen," said Dr. James Smith with OBI. "That's really the purpose of the screening process we go through."

McMinn's thankful for the test. He remains cancer free and hopes to stay that way.

The Oklahoma Blood Institute is always looking for more donors.