Runners go balls-to-the-wall for cancer fight

Construction workers near Ratanga Park at Century City did a double take when a group of men in purple Speedos jogged past their building site on Friday last week.

The men in the skimpy cozzies had stripped down for the 5km Hollard Daredevil Run, one of several such events held across the country to raise awareness of prostate and testicular cancer, which are most common in men aged 15 to 35, but among the most easy cancers to treat if diagnosed early.

By baring it all, or almost all, the men are encouraged to be bold enough to check themselves and take proactive steps for their health.

Olivia Curlewis, from the Cancer Association of South Africa, said it was vital for men to take responsibility for their health.

She said a simple blood test, known as a PSA, or prostate specific antigen test, was done to check for prostate cancer. The test checks for a protein in the blood that attaches itself to cancer and non-cancerous tissue in the prostate.

The risk for aggressive prostate cancer, according to Cansa, is higher in black men.

Prostate cancer often occurs without symptoms, but these can include frequent urination, especially at night; straining to pass urine; painful or burning sensation during urination or ejaculation; as well as leaking urine and bloody urine/semen.

Eating large amounts of red meat or high-fat dairy and high alcohol consumption also increases the risk of prostate cancer.