Prostate Cancer Awareness Month – The Long Run

Australia’s peak body for prostate cancer awareness is calling on all Australians to take part in a new online community event for Prostate Cancer Awareness Month this September.

The campaign is known as The Long Run – https://www.thelongrun.org.au/ – challenging individuals and teams to walk, run, or wheel 72km to raise awareness of the physical and mental toll prostate cancer takes on Australian lives.

FACTS

• Every 30 minutes, one of our fathers, brothers, or sons is diagnosed with prostate cancer.
• About 46 Australian men are diagnosed each day with prostate cancer.
• About 9 Australian men die each day of prostate cancer.
• 1 in 6 Aussie men will be diagnosed by age 85.
• Over 16,700 Australian men will be diagnosed each year.
• About 3,200 Australian men will die from prostate cancer each year.
• Around 1 in 5 men with prostate cancer experience long-term anxiety and depression.
• Australian men in regional areas face a 24% higher risk of death from prostate cancer.
• Australian men with prostate cancer have a 70% increased risk of suicide.
• 72% of Australian men who develop mental illness linked to their prostate cancer will not seek help for it.
• About 12% of all male cancer deaths in Australia are caused by prostate cancer.
• Prostate cancer is the #2 cancer killer in Australian men.
• 1 in 35 Australian men will die of prostate cancer by his 85th birthday.
• Prostate cancer is the #1 cancer diagnosed among Australian men.
• There are over 220,000 Australian men alive today after a diagnosis of prostate cancer.
• Over the past 35 years, prostate cancer survival has jumped from 60% to 95% – if we keep up the pace of progress we can save many lives.

While prostate cancer has one of the highest cancer survival rates, the lifelong impacts of treatment can be devastating for many men, including incontinence, erectile dysfunction, and the harsh side-effects of hormonal therapy.

Every kilometre we cover as a community this September will bring us closer to a world where prostate cancer can be effectively treated, where side effects can be overcome, and where all men have access to life-saving care and support.

To get involved in the campaign, go to www.thelongrun.org.au.