Not many men like to talk about it, but prostate and testicular cancer affects many South Africans.
Marco Bothma (who greeted the Record wearing only a speedo and a shirt) and his team of 16 at Fencura, an associate of Liberty Life, is trying to change all that. This year Marco and his team will participate in the Hollard Daredevil Run for the first time to raise the awareness of prostate and testicular cancer. The men run in nothing but Speedos in order to get a reaction out of people and get them talking.
Marco and his men run with the message that “prevention is better than cure”, encouraging men to get tested early and regularly. Marco says, “The focus is usually on women, we want to take the stigma away from the conversation around males.”
Marco got involved with the project after hearing about the run on the radio. The other men in his term were hesitant at first due to the fact that they had to run half naked, but decided to put away their fears and make a difference for a good cause.
The issue of prostate and testicular cancer is close to Marco’s heart after losing a close family member to prostate cancer and supporting one of his associates, Vernon Olivier (who he calls his “warrior”) through his own battle with the disease. Being in the insurance business, Marco has also seen many cases of cancer, Fencura paying out just under R5 million for critical illness, 44 per cent of which were cancer cases.
“We care about our clients, not just about policies,” he says.
The team as well as their families are involved the race, obtaining funding through media. The most important message they have is “Men must go for tests, in spite of the sensitivity around the issue.” For more on the Hollard Daredevil Run visit www.daredevilrun.co.za
Did you know:
– Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers, affecting one in 23 men during their lifetime.
– Five South African men die from prostate cancer every day and 4 300 are diagnosed every year.
– Testicular cancer is most common in men aged 15 to 39.
– 153 new cases of testicular cancer were diagnosed in 2007 in South Africa.
– The five year relative survival rate for testicular cancer in South Africa is 95 per cent provided that cancer is detected and treatment is undertaken.
Perhaps the greatest setback doctors face when trying to treat prostate and testicular cancer is the lack of men being tested regularly leading to late detection. This is due to the fact that most men feel uncomfortable discussing their prostate and testicular health. There is a certain stigma created around this particular issue and for this reason men neglect to go for regular checkups. It is however very important that men do so as soon as possible.
Want to receive news alerts via WhatsApp? Send us an SMS/ WhatsApp message with your name and cellphone number to 079 414 6709.
Familiarise yourself with our WhatsApp service disclaimer.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at roodepoortrecord@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 955 1130.
For free daily local news on the West Rand, also visit our sister newspaper websites Randfontein Herald, Krugersdorp News and Get It Joburg West Magazine
Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages to let your voice be heard!
