LIFESTYLE NEWS - September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and the Prostate Cancer Foundation is asking men and women to wear a suit on 27 September to help create awareness about prostate cancer.
Stickers are sold to participants to rainse funds that will be used to support the education, awareness and research initiatives of the foundation.
Companies, organisations and individuals can get involved by simply purchasing their 'Suit Up September' stickers directly from the Prostate Cancer Foundation and wear a suit on 27 September, or by organising an event where wearing a suit would be unusual.
Stickers cost R20 each and can be bought directly from one of the foundation's distribution points. In George, this is Food Co on the corner of Knysna Road and Fourth Street, Loerie Park.
Why is it important to create awareness about prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting men throughout the world. The risk for prostate cancer increases with age and 70% of men over the age of 70 are likely to be affected. Treatments for prostate cancer are highly effective, particularly if the disease is detected early.
Creating awareness about prostate cancer can save lives. Detecting prostate cancer early facilitates the best treatment options. There are normally no symptoms in the early stages of prostate cancer, which is why screening is so useful.
What are the risk factors for prostate cancer?
The exact causes of prostate cancer are unknown. We do know the following:
- Age - the risk of getting prostate cancer increases with age;
- Family history - the risk of getting prostate cancer increases significantly if an immediate relative (a brother or father) has been diagnosed with prostate cancer and if a man's mother has been diagnosed with breast cancer;
- Men who have at least 21 ejaculations per month have a 20% reduced risk of prostate cancer.
How common is prostate cancer?
Unfortunately prevalence data in South Africa is inaccurate, as many men do not have access to prostate cancer screening or if they are screened, they cannot be diagnosed due to a lack of biopsy facilities.
The Prostate Cancer Foundation therefore uses data from the USA and UK to estimate the incidence of prostate cancer amongst South African men. In the USA about 1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. That's about 16% of men.
In black men the incidence of prostate cancer is almost 60% higher than in white men and the mortality rate (number of men dying from the disease) is 2 to 3 times higher.
What are some of the symptoms that might indicate the presence of prostate cancer?
- A need to urinate frequently, especially at night;
- Difficulty in starting to urinate or in holding it;
- Weak or interrupted flow of urine;
- Painful urination;
- Blood in urine or semen;
- Frequent lower back pain.
How does prostate cancer affect the prostate?
Prostate cancer is an abnormal growth and multiplication of cells in the prostate. These rapidly multiplying cancer cells form a tumour. The cancer is graded from stage 1 to stage 4, depending on the size of the tumour and whether it has spread outside of the prostate to other parts of the body.
For more information, contact the Prostate Cancer Foundation on 084 283 3987 or visit www.prostate-ca.co.za.
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