One in eight kiwi blokes will get prostate cancer in their lifetime.
Mates, fathers, sons, brothers, grandfathers – if you haven’t been directly affected by prostate cancer, you’re bound to know someone who has.
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer (apart from skin cancers) in Kiwi men. Every year more than 4000 men are diagnosed and over 700 die from the disease – the third highest cause of death after lung and bowel cancers.
Māori men have a slightly lower incidence of prostate cancer but have a higher death rate than other New Zealand men. The reasons for this may be a later diagnosis or treatment choices offered to them.
Overall, the number of men diagnosed in New Zealand is increasing, largely due to increased rates of testing and the death rate is slowly dropping, largely due to better outcomes from early diagnosis and improved treatments available.
What are the symptoms?
Often, prostate cancer doesn’t cause symptoms, especially in the early stages. It can remain undetected for some time and still not cause symptoms.
If there are symptoms, they may include:
• Feeling the frequent or sudden need to urinate, especially at night
• Finding it difficult to urinate (e.g. trouble starting or not being able to urinate when the feeling is there)
• Discomfort when urinating
• Finding blood in urine or semen
• Pain in lower back, upper thighs or hips
• Bone pain
• Unexpected weight loss.
Prostate Cancer Foundation NZ
The Prostate Cancer Foundation NZ is Aotearoa New Zealand’s leading men’s cancer charity. Their Vision is to significantly reduce and ultimately end suffering and death from prostate cancer, by providing support and education, funding research, and advocating to reduce the impacts of the disease.
There are many different treatments for prostate disease and people need information about their choices so they can make decisions that are best for them.
The role of Prostate Cancer Foundation NZ is to help those recently diagnosed with prostate cancer, and survivors of prostate cancer, to lead productive and full lives through shared counselling and discussions.
Fundraising
Businesses, community groups, families, and individuals all over New Zealand join together in September in getting the message out to New Zealand men to “get checked” for prostate cancer.
So put on your blue tutu, blue wig, fundraise at work, organise an event or join an event to help fundraise and build awareness of prostate cancer.
Every effort, every activity, every dollar, every cent, however small, helps Prostate Cancer Foundation NZ to improve the health outcomes of Kiwi men.
If you want to get involved in fundraising check out the following website
https://fundraise.prostate.org.nz/event/blueseptember
Support
Prostate Cancer Foundation NZ offers an online counselling service plus a support forum. They will help you find a support group/network in your area and organise support meetings.
If you are needing support, check out the following website https:// prostate.org.nz