South African runners raise prostate cancer awareness in annual race

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 23 Oct, 19:08 · Archive

Hundreds of men ran through Johannesburg in purple swim briefs on Friday for the Hollard Daredevil Race, an annual event highlighting prostate cancer.

Hundreds of runners in purple briefs took to the streets of Johannesburg on Friday to raise awareness of prostate cancer at the Hollard Daredevil Race, an annual event highlighting what researchers describe as South Africa's most common cancer.

Organizers say the disease is rarely discussed openly among South African men. A 2023 study of Black men diagnosed with prostate cancer in Free State province found that fewer than one in four had heard of the disease before their diagnosis. Another study that year among men in Limpopo province found that almost two-thirds had inadequate awareness of prostate cancer, whilst more than 80 per cent knew nothing about screening methods.

Andrew Oberholzer, chief executive of the Prostate Cancer Foundation, said many men have never heard of prostate cancer and do not know about PSA (prostate-specific antigen) screening, presenting only when the disease is advanced. He noted that when caught early, more than 99 per cent of men are alive five years later. Some participants were prostate cancer survivors who encouraged other men to get screened, including runner Riyaad Kriel, who said he has run long distances for 45 years and is a cancer survivor.

How it is being reported

• South African runners don cheeky attire for annual race to spotlight prostate cancerA crowd of South African men ran through the streets of Johannesburg in purple swim briefs to raise awareness about prostate cancer.Clickorlando · 23 Oct, 18:21
• South African runners don cheeky attire for annual race to spotlight prostate cancerA crowd of South African men ran through the streets of Johannesburg in purple swim briefs to raise awareness about prostate cancer.News4Jax · 23 Oct, 18:21

In this story: South Africa · Johannesburg · Hollard Daredevil Race · Prostate Cancer Foundation · Andrew Oberholzer · Riyaad Kriel

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