Crosses to Symbolise Lives Lost to Prostate Cancer

Media release

2 September 2010

600 Crosses to Symbolise Lives Lost to Prostate Cancer

Now the most common cancer in New Zealand men, prostate cancer is taking centre stage this Friday 3 September (Blue Friday) with 600 blue crosses positioned in key centres throughout the country. 600 is the number of men who die every year in New Zealand from prostate cancer.

“It is a poignant occasion and a chance to acknowledge the brothers, fathers, uncles and grandfathers whose lives have been affected by this disease,” says Keith Beck, CEO of the Prostate Cancer Foundation.

“The number of annual deaths from prostate cancer is higher than the road toll, but we could prevent up to half of them with early detection.” says Mr Beck.

The Blue Cross remembrance is part of Blue September, international prostate cancer awareness month, which encourages people to “get blue” and face up to a disease that affects 1 in 10 New Zealand men - 2,500 are diagnosed every year.

Newly appointed patron for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand and tireless advocate for men’s health, Sir Peter Leitch KNZM, QSM (aka The Mad Butcher), says Kiwi males are notoriously bad at facing up to their own health.

At the launch of Blue September this week Sir Peter Leitch sent a message to all New Zealanders: “I charge you all to be ambassadors and get out there and spread the word of Blue September – we want everyone behind prostate cancer awareness because it is a disease that is killing too many men."

In facing his own battle with bladder cancer, Sir Peter Leitch has lead by example and saw his GP immediately when he felt something wasn’t quite right. Sir Peter has continued to push men to take their health seriously, saying that early detection can help prevent fatal illness.

“Because symptoms of the disease do not usually show until further down the track most men don’t know they have it. We could prevent a lot of these deaths if all men over 40 visited their doctor more regularly and had an annual Prostate Specific- Antigen (PSA) test” says Mr Beck.

Throughout September, New Zealand landmarks will be lit blue, including Auckland’s Sky Tower, Napier’s Tom Parker Fountain, Upper Hutt’s CBD, and Dunedin’s Robbie Burns statue; and schools, businesses and community groups will be ‘getting blue’ and organising events to make a difference.

ENDS