Blue September promotes the awareness of Prostate Cancer and the need for men aged 40 to get tested. It's run every year by the Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand.
In New Zealand prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men and the third most common cause of cancer death in men, after lung cancer and bowel cancer.
Approximately 3000 new cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed each year.
One in 10 men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime.
Between 10 and 20 per cent of men with prostate cancer progress to advanced (metastatic) prostate cancer within five years of diagnosis.
Approximately 600 New Zealand men die each year from metastatic prostate cancer.
Many of these deaths could be prevented by early detection and healthy lifestyle choices.
Maori men are 72 per cent more likely to die of prostate cancer once diagnosed than non-Maori men.
What is a prostate you may well ask?
All men have a prostate. The prostate is a small walnut-shaped gland that surrounds the bladder opening (by the time they got to mine it was passed being a walnut, it was the tree!). The prostate produces some of the fluid in semen -- very important guys.
From age 50 the prostate gland often increases in size. A larger than normal prostate gland can affect the urinary passage (the urethra) and can cause problems when men urinate.
These problems can be:
Peeing more often
Having trouble getting started or stopping.
Poor flow or dribbling.
Constantly getting up at night to pee.
What is prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer occurs when the cells in the prostate gland grow out of control and form lumps called tumours. While some prostate cancers grow slowly, others can grow rapidly or spread to other areas, such as the bones and lungs.
How can I reduce my risk of dying from prostate cancer?
The cause of prostate cancer is not yet known but men who eat a lot of animal fat may have a higher chance of getting prostate cancer. You may be able to reduce your overall cancer risk by:
Maintaining a healthy body weight.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Eating low-fat, high-fibre foods -- including plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Exercising regularly.
Being smoke free.
Some years ago, I frequently visited a Catholic nun who was a relation. We would have a cuppa and she would arm me with some beautiful homemade bread with all the grains. One day she handed me a loaf with pumpkin seeds and said, "This is good for your prostate." I replied, "Sister I don't have one."
"Why not?" she asked. "You never gave me the pumpkin bread soon enough."
We dined out on that for years, unfortunately she passed away a few years back. I had it 19 years ago and I'm now running on all cylinders.
Be listening to 'Rise Above It' on Access Manawatu 999 AM this Friday 10am-11am. My guest is Graeme Woodside, chief executive of Prostate Cancer Foundation New Zealand. For further information call 0800 477 678 (0800 4 PROSTATE), visit www.prostate.org.nz, Get the Tools -- Nuts and Bolts of Men's Health at www.getthetools.org.nz, mikeburkejp@riseaboveit.co.nz.