JOHANNESBURG — Hundreds of runners in purple briefs took to the streets of Johannesburg last Friday to raise awareness of prostate cancer.
The men took part in the Hollard Daredevil Race, an annual event highlighting what researchers describe as the most common cancer in South Africa. 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, while more than 80% knew nothing about screening methods.
“Many men have never heard of it, don’t know about PSA (prostate-specific antigen) screening and only present when it is advanced. Caught early, more than 99% of men are alive five years later,” said Andrew Oberholzer, chief executive of the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
Some participants were prostate cancer survivors who encouraged other men to get screened.
“I’ve been running long distances for 45 years now and then I’ve also gone through a prostate cancer process. I’m a cancer survivor from prostate,” participant Riyaad Kriel said.
In the United States, cancer rates have been falling, cancer death rates have steadily declined among Black people but remain higher than in other racial and ethnic groups.
Montell Jordan, a son of South L.A. who shot to fame in 1995 with the hit “This Is How We Do It,” talked about his journey with prostate cancer because, he said, the way the disease is interwoven with notions of manhood and masculinity mean men don’t like to talk about it. Former Lakers great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had the diagnosis as did longtime “Today” weatherman Al Roker.
The post Cheeky attire in annual South Africa race to spotlight prostate cancer appeared first on Los Angeles Times.
