Rural Women launches Y Front Up for Prostate Cancer campaign

14 June 2013

Rural Women NZ launches Y Front Up for Prostate Cancer campaign at Fieldays

Pikelets are proving popular with the punters at the Rural Women New Zealand stand at the National Fieldays at Mystery Creek in Hamilton.

It’s all part of the Y Front Up to Prostate Cancer campaign launched by Rural Women NZ this week.

“Blokes can be a bit slow to visit the doctor and get themselves checked, so we’re giving them a helping hand,” says Rural Women NZ national president, Liz Evans.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in men and the third leading cause of cancer deaths in this country.

“We want to raise awareness of the disease and get women to encourage their men to see their GP for a screening test,” says Mrs Evans.

Each year in New Zealand around 2,500 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer. While no one-knows the cause, age is the strongest risk factor.

The 2012 Prostate Cancer Taskforce recommends men with urinary symptoms should request assessment by their GP. This assessment is likely to include a PSA blood test and digital rectal examination (DRE). The general practitioner may suggest referral to a specialist depending on the severity of the symptoms or if there is a suspicion that there may be underlying prostate cancer.

Between now and November, Rural Women NZ members will be holding prostate-themed events around the country, such as cocktail parties and pikelets for prostate, hosting guest speakers and organising fun activities to raise awareness of the disease and funds for research.

The money collected will be presented to the Prostate Cancer Foundation in November.

For more information go to http://www.ruralwomen.org.nz/news-and-inspiration/y-front-up-to-prostate-cancer.

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