Source: Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand
All Black coaching legend Sir Steve Hansen and New Zealand comedy icon Te Radar are supporting a new campaign from the Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand: “Just a Tick – It could save your life”.
The nationwide campaign encourages men to ask for ‘just a tick’ in the box on a standard blood test form doctors use to order a prostate blood test.
The pair star together in a new campaign ad, with a simple message for Kiwi men over 40: look after yourself, take ownership of your health, and ask your doctor to ‘just tick the box’ for a prostate PSA blood test, which can help in the early detection of prostate cancer.
“I’ve had a number of mates who have lived with prostate cancer. The best thing we can do as men is look after ourselves, look after our mates, and take ownership of our health. It’s a simple tick in the box on a blood test form,” Sir Steve says.
“But behind that tick is making sure we’re around for the people we love, and who love us. We’re fathers, sons, brothers and uncles, and people are counting on us.”
Te Radar is equally direct.
“Most blokes hear ‘prostate cancer check’ and they’re halfway out the door before the doctor’s finished the sentence. The truth is it can start with a simple blood test. Ask your doctor to tick for PSA, book in your annual check-up, and get on with your day. It’s a small thing that could mean a lot more birthdays, barbecues and time with your family.
“Don’t be a dick. Just get the bloody tick!”, Te Radar says.
“It’s a win-win for men,” says Peter Dickens, Chief Executive of the Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand.
“If you’re a man who has reached his forties or older, and you’re feeling fit and well, that’s a good thing. The message of Just a Tick is that this is exactly the time to start being proactive about your health, rather than waiting until something goes wrong. An annual health check is an opportunity to talk to your doctor about the things worth keeping an eye on as you get older. Prostate health should be part of that conversation. Ask about the prostate blood test: just a tick in that box could save your life.”
A prostate blood test measures the level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the blood. An elevated PSA level can be a sign of prostate cancer. It is simply an indicator of a possible issue to investigate further.
A prostate blood test cannot diagnose cancer on its own, but it can help a doctor assess whether further investigation is needed. If so, further diagnostic steps can be taken by specialist urologists to determine if monitoring, further investigation or treatment may be required.
Prostate cancer is the most commonly-diagnosed cancer in New Zealand men – approximately 4,500 men are diagnosed and 740 men die each year.
International data suggests that earlier detection could mean men live longer and that deaths from prostate cancer will be reduced at rates commensurate with our current screening programmes, such as breast and cervical cancers¹.
Approximately one in eight men will develop prostate cancer during their lifetime.
For more information about prostate health and the Just a Tick campaign, visit the Prostate Cancer Foundation New Zealand at www.justatick.co.nz.
¹ European Study of Prostate Cancer Screening – 23-Year Follow-up – Erasmus University Rotterdam