September marks Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in South Africa, with health organisations urging men to understand their risk and prioritise early detection. Despite the growing incidence of the disease, awareness about prostate cancer remains low among many South African men. A 2023 study among Black men diagnosed with prostate cancer in the Free State found that fewer than one in four had heard of the disease before their diagnosis.
The risk of prostate cancer is particularly significant for South African men. One in four Black men and one in eight white men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime. Black African men face a 60% higher risk of developing prostate cancer than white men and are 2.5 times more likely to die from the disease. According to Globocan, the specialised cancer research agency of the World Health Organization, prostate cancer is now the most common cancer in South Africa and the second most deadly cancer among South African men after lung cancer.
Early detection can save lives when it comes to prostate cancer. When prostate cancer is detected and treated before it spreads beyond the prostate, more than 99% of men are still alive five years after diagnosis. However, a 2026 South African study by researchers from Walter Sisulu University found that late presentation remains a widespread challenge, highlighting gaps in early detection, delayed referrals and limited access to PSA testing.
The Prostate Cancer Foundation of South Africa is urging men to understand their risk and get screened. Black African men are also more prone to developing an aggressive form of prostate cancer than Black American men. Studies across Africa are investigating genetic factors that could help explain the increased risk. Andrew Oberholzer, CEO of the Prostate Cancer Foundation of South Africa, said that regular, age and risk-appropriate PSA screening gives men a better chance of finding the disease early.
Prostate cancer starts in the prostate, a small gland located just below the bladder. Early prostate cancer usually causes no symptoms, while advanced disease can include difficulty urinating, blood in the urine or semen, erectile dysfunction, bone pain, weakness or numbness in the legs or feet, unexplained weight loss and persistent fatigue. The risk increases with age and is also higher among men with close relatives, particularly a father or brother, who have had prostate cancer.
Initiatives such as the Prostate Cancer Foundation's Suit Up September campaign and the annual Hollard Daredevil Run aim to encourage more South African men to talk about prostate cancer, understand their risk and consider screening. This year's Hollard Daredevil Run takes place on October 23, with funds raised supporting the Prostate Cancer Foundation and the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA).
The Prostate Cancer Foundation has also announced that the first comprehensive Prostate Cancer Registry is being developed in partnership with non-profit data analysis organisation Health Quality Assessment and various medical professional societies. Oberholzer's message to South African men is straightforward: “Don’t wait for symptoms.” He urged men to understand their risk, speak to a healthcare provider or local clinic and get screened, noting that early detection can save lives.
Key points
- Black African men face a 60% higher risk of developing prostate cancer than white men and are 2.5 times more likely to die from the disease.
- Early detection of prostate cancer can save lives, with more than 99% of men still alive five years after diagnosis if treated before the disease spreads.
- The Prostate Cancer Foundation is urging men to understand their risk and get screened, with men considered at higher risk recommended to have annual PSA screening from age 40.
