THE Wimmera Prostate Cancer Support Group are hoping to create a discussion during international prostate cancer awareness month.
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September is prostate cancer awareness month where people are encouraged to help create awareness and raise funds.
Wimmera Prostate Cancer Support Group’s co-leader Max Judd said about one in seven men have prostate cancer in the region. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1999.
“They found I had prostate cancer and I had a operation in 2000 where they removed the prostate,” he said.
“Around eight years later I had radiation on top of that and now I have a PSA rating that is undetectable.”
Mr Judd said people need to be aware that prostate cancer was not a death sentence, but they do need to take the steps to ensure its detected early.
“If it doesn’t get detected early enough, the cancer goes directly in the bones and it’s not a good situation when that happens,” he said.
“People don’t listen when you hear the word cancer. They immediately think what’s next? Not how do we get around this?
“We want to help people make it easier to digest. We live in a changing world and we have more information than ten years ago.”
Wimmera Prostate Cancer Support Group’s co-leader Brian Nagorcka said prostate cancer was easily detected with a simple blood test.
“I went to a doctor for another reason and he said I hadn’t had a blood test in a while,” he said.
“It was three years ago when they found that I had prostate cancer.
“I took the option of radiotherapy and I now have a PSA count of 0.2, which the doctor is pleased with.”
Mr Nagorcka said the group was hoping to break down barriers and encourage men to speak out.
“People think that it would never happen to them – I admit I was one of them,” he said. “We need to get the message out there and create the discussion.”
Also, organised for international prostate cancer awareness month is the distinguished gentleman’s ride in Horsham on September 30.
The event will raise money to help the fight against prostate cancer.