If you are a man over 40 years of age, you are heading into the zone where prostate problems may be lurking.
If undetected or left untreated, this could lead to prostate cancer – and it could also have a negative impact on your sex life! Fear not, you can be assisted to check the status of your prostate with a painless procedure called a Prostate Specific Antigen, or PSA test.
The test consists of having a blood sample taken which is then sent off to a lab for testing to detect the possibility of developing prostate cancer. And CANSA uThungulu, as part of men’s cancer awareness month will on Sunday, 29 November, be providing this potentially life-saving test to members of the public.
Courtesy of the Boardwalk Inkwazi Shopping Centre, qualified nurses will be on hand at the mall (next to Woolworths) between 10am and 1pm.
The procedure is quick – about 20 minutes – and painless, and the message is: ‘A simple blood test could save your life,’ said CANSA Service Delivery Coordinator Sthabile Mtolo.
‘This could be the best ever present you have given your wife and family.
‘There are two options: a free finger-prick test or a more detailed PSA test involving drawing a blood sample, for which CANSA is asking participants to donate R100 to cover the lab costs.
Personal testimony
‘Early detection and intervention is best,’ said initiator of the event, Zululand Observer Editor-in-Chief Dave Savides.
‘Some years ago during a routine annual medical check-up it was discovered my PSA count was high. A week later I had undergone a simple operation and was back home in two days and in great health since then.
‘Who knows, I might well have contracted prostate cancer if I hadn’t had the test.
‘I encourage everybody to not only participate in this drive, but also encourage their friends in the same age group to do so.’
Any person who can assist by way of donations, or volunteering on the day can call Mtolo on 073 0754788, email smtolo@cansa.org.za; or Dave Savides on 060 9719249, email dave@zob.co.za
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