43 THE PROSTATE CANCER FOUNDATION AND ASTELLAS TEAMED UP THIS SEPTEMBER TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST PROSTATE CANCER We are facing a unique set of challenges in South Africa when it comes to prostate cancer. We have high numbers of men presenting with locally advanced or advanced prostate cancer. Black African men globally have a 60% higher risk for prostate cancer than white males , and Black 1 South African men have a 2.1-fold greater risk for aggressive cancer at presentation than reported 2 for African Americans. An actuarial study commissioned by Cancer Alliance predicts that prostate cancer is likely to be the most common 3 cancer in South Africa by 2030. A Prostate Specic Antigen (PSA) test is the most obvious way to increase the diagnosis of prostate cancer in the early stages of the disease when treatment is potentially curable. To this end the Prostate Cancer Foundation launched the “I took the test” campaign in 2020. The campaign uses celebrities and high-prole medical specialists to encourage men to go for age- and riskappropriate prostate cancer screening. September is prostate cancer awareness month and this year an additional arm was added to the campaign with Astellas Pharma providing funding for free PSA tests to be done at selected private clinics in various major cities. Specially trained Prostate Cancer Foundation nurses worked together with Lancet Laboratories and Pathcare (in the Eastern Cape) to conduct the testing campaign. “We were overwhelmed with the response” comments Prostate Cancer Foundation's CEO, Andrew Oberholzer. “For many men this was the rst time that they had ever had the opportunity to have a PSA test, and the fact that so many men responded is an indication that our education and awareness campaigns are working. All men were advised of the advantages and disadvantages of PSA testing, but it appears as though most men would prefer to have the benet of the early detection of prostate cancer.” Of the 1 241 tests completed, a total of 164 patients had a raised PSA, using the age specic reference ranges from the Prostate Cancer Foundation's Treatment and Diagnostic Guidelines. All men with a raised PSA were contacted by the Prostate Cancer Foundation to ensure that they understood the importance of taking appropriate action. Men waiting outside The Urology Hospital in Pretoria for a free PSA test Sr Eileen Botha testing one of the employees at Life Flora Hospital UROLOGY, URO-ONCOLOGY AND SEXOLOGY UPDATE
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