Disquiet over quiet Blue September

A national month marking the most common cancer for men has slid by quietly in Marlborough, leaving some wondering why the prolific killer gets so little attention.

Blue September will end on Monday, with only one public fundraising event in the region; a Distinguished Gentlemen’s Ride through Blenheim this Sunday.

Prostate cancer claims 600 lives each year in New Zealand, with 3000 men diagnosed annually. The death rate is the same as breast cancer.

Ride organiser Anthony Barnes said he was not surprised Blue September did not enjoy the same level of enthusiasm as other fundraising campaigns, because he believed there was still a cultural stigma about discussing subjects like prostate cancer. ‘‘I think it’s an accepted thing that guys don’t ask for help, even for medical things. It’s a cultural thing, but everyone needs help at some point or other,’’ Barnes said.

‘‘If you’re supposed to get a check-up, don’t put it off. It’s like your car, if you don’t get it serviced, things can go wrong.

‘‘But it’s very sobering when you actually look at the statistics and you see the average – two men dying per day across New Zealand, that makes for a fairly sizeable statistic.’’

Prostate Cancer Foundation chief executive Graeme Woodside said this year eight private Blue Dos registered with the charity in Marlborough; small, private fundraising events organised by businesses, and one at Rai Valley School.

‘‘As an organisation we don’t have the capacity to arrange major events in towns and cities throughout the country, but we are very pleased that many people do that on our behalf,’’ Woodside said.

Nelson Marlborough District Health Board did not have any public events planned, nor did Cancer Society Marlborough.

However, centre manager Felicity Spencer said the team had arranged a prostate cancer survivor to speak at a Lions Club meeting in Seddon yesterday evening.

‘‘But men’s health in general is something that people are reluctant to talk about, in particular when it’s their own personal health issues, and other people don’t know how to support them, or how to even ask about it,’’ Spencer said.

‘‘So awareness campaigns are great, but hearing someone share their experiences can make a real difference. We had an event where Buck Shelford came and spoke, and someone in the audience recognised the signs, went and got checked, and actually got an early diagnosis.’’

Barnes said the number of riders in Blenheim’s fifth annual Gentlemen’s Ride had topped 60 for the first time this year, perhaps reflecting an increasing awareness.

Men’s mental health was also a focus for the ride, with 40 per cent of funds raised going to the Movember Foundation.