WIMMERA Prostate Cancer Support Group is encouraging men to take preventative health measures to minimise the risk of developing problems later in life.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Group assistant team leader Max Judd said it was important for people to be aware of the problems that prostate cancer could present if it was not detected in its early stages.
"We are trying to get it out in the open to get people to talk about it and get tested with a simple blood test," he said.
"If there is prostate cancer within the family they should be tested forty years of age onwards. If not in the family, it should be tested 50 years of age onwards.
"It's a silent one.There are very few signals to say that you have prostate cancer. You can have it and not even know it."
Mr Judd was diagnosed with prostate cancer and had his prostate removed in 2000.
"I am still surviving. It's been nineteen and a half years," he said.
Mr Judd said men's health was an important issue which needed to be discussed more often.
"Women with varying cancers, they speak about them (and) there is a lot of support behind (them)," he said.
"Because men think they are bulletproof, they don't talk about it. They think this will never happen to them but it does. We just need to try and get people to open up."
READ MORE: Wimmera Prostate Cancer Support Group forms
His comments come as the group prepares to host two community events as part of Men's Health Week and World Continence Week.
Members will man a stall at Horsham Plaza on June 14 from 9am for Men's Health Week, which runs from June 10 to June 17.
The group will also host a community forum on June 20 at Horsham RSL as part of World Continence Week, which is observed from June 17 to June 23.
The forum starts at 6.30pm and will have urologist Richard McMullin raise awareness about prostate cancer.
Mr Judd said the group had received a good response from community members from their previous events at Horsham Plaza and the Wimmera Machinery Field Days in the past years.
The group was formed three years ago following a forum which was also led by Dr Richard McMullin. Mr Judd said it drew a good crowd and had contributed to the formation of the group..
Mr Judd has urged people to attend the upcoming forum which will raise questions about prostate cancer and its treatment. He said people could get more information on by contacting 5382 2339 or 5382 1841.
While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox twice weekly from the Wimmera Mail-Times. To make sure you're up-to-date with all the news from across the Wimmera, sign up below.
