'Too many men are dying silently’: Cancer survivor leads prostate cancer awareness run in KZN

Cancer survivor Dumisani Pakkies launched a Prostate Cancer Awareness Run at Grey’s Hospital on Tuesday.

This initiative was supported by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health.

The aim of this program is to raise awareness and tackle the stigma, fear, and lack of knowledge about prostate cancer.

On Tuesday men gathered at Grey’s Hospital to receive prostate cancer screenings.

Prostate cancer is a disease in which cancer cells form in the tissues of the prostate. The prostate is a small gland found only in men, located below the bladder and in front of the rectum. Men over the age of 50 years (45 years for those with a family history of cancer ) are at risk of getting prostate cancer.

Dumisani Pakkies, who is the founder of this initiative, is an accountant who was diagnosed with stage 3 prostate cancer in 2020 despite having no symptoms at the time. Pakkies notes that the main idea of this initiative is to educate men about this disease.

“Too many men are dying silently from prostate cancer,” said Pakkies.

Prostate cancer can grow silently for years and often shows symptoms when advanced. Pakkies notes that it is important for men to be screened and detected early.

“We want men to understand that early detection can save lives,” said Pakkies.

Pakkies, together with fellow athletes, will embark on a run, starting with a leg from Pietermaritzburg to Hammersdale on Friday, and resume on Saturday to reach Durban. This symbolic run will shine the spotlight on prostate cancer which disproportionately affects Black African men, due to stigma and late diagnosis. 

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