Keating: Prostate cancer ignorance shocking

THERE is a shocking level of ignorance about prostate cancer at a time when nearly 1,400 new cases are diagnosed every year, singer Ronan Keating warned yesterday.

Mr Keating, patron of the Marie Keating Foundation, said the latest research indicated that one-in-four people did not know what the prostate gland is.

“Yet only skin cancer kills more men than prostate cancer,” he said at the launch of the foundation’s third annual men’s cancer campaign in Dublin yesterday.

It is estimated that one-in-14 men living in Ireland will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during the course of their lifetime.

The National Cancer Registry recently estimated that the incidence of prostate cancer will almost treble by 2020, with around 3,800 new cases diagnosed during the year.

The former Boyzone frontman said research conducted for the foundation this year found that only 24% of the population knew that the prostate gland was only present in men.

The foundation is also anxious to raise awareness of testicular cancer, which is much rarer than prostate cancer.

Testicular cancer is one of the most common cancers in men aged between 18 and 35.

About one-in-280 Irish men will develop testicular cancer. It can be cured if detected at an early stage.

Mr Keating said the foundation wanted to educate more people about the dangers of men’s cancer and reinforce the message that early detection provides the best chance of survival.

The Give Men’s Cancer the Boot campaign is sponsored by VIVAS Health and supported by Marks & Spencer.

Those wanting to show support can buy specially designed car-boot magnets or keyrings at Marks & Spencer stores at €2 each.