Biking against prostate cancer
The French Association of Urology (AFU) has launched a public awareness campaign to coincide with the European Prostate Cancer Day, which is held annually on 20 September.
This year the campaign includes a special cycling event, "I bike against prostate cancer”, whereby 300 urologists, patients, radiologists and oncologists will conquer Mont Ventoux in Southern France, side by side with legendary former pro-cyclist Bernard Hinault.
The EAU Secretary General Elect, Prof. Arnulf Stenzl (DE) accepted an invitation from Georges Fournier, President of the AFU, to participate in this sporty initiative. Prof. Stenzl:
“Having patients, doctors and the general public biking side by side in a peloton of solidarity all the way to the summit will be an unprecedented and highly visible event to inform and act against prostate cancer.”
Prof. Stenzl will take on this iconic and famous Tour de France climb wearing an EAU jersey and will place an EAU flag at the top of the mountain when he summits on 17 September this year with his fellow colleagues. Mt. Ventoux is one of the most gruelling cycle climbs in the world, 21km long and with a daunting 7.7% average gradient. This event allows for the option of a regular bike or an electric bike.
Prostate cancer represents the number one male cancer in France, with more than 50,000 new cases per year. It is essential that men over 50 and those around them are better informed because early detection could reduce mortality when the cancer does not give any symptoms.
"We are mobilising to raise awareness of prostate cancer in order to reduce mortality in the years to come. To do this, the main action is to detect prostate cancer from the age of 50 by measuring the PSA, without waiting for urinary symptoms or pain, so as not to discover it at a late stage, with a poor prognosis. This is why the AFU is conducting a large-scale campaign this year," said Professor Georges Fournier.
With "Je roule contre le cancer de la prostate", the AFU affirms more than ever its slogan: "Today, we should no longer die of prostate cancer because we are not informed!"
For more information about the awareness campaign “I’m biking against prostate cancer”, you can visit the urofrance.org website here.
