Awareness month aims to convince men over 40 to take a simple blood test to detect the disease in its earliest stages.

THUNDER BAY – Prostate cancer numbers are on the rise.

Until recently, according to the Canadian Cancer Society, one in eight Canadian men will be diagnosed with the disease during their lifetimes.

Today, that number stands at one in seven.

But it doesn’t have to be a death sentence, said survivor Ed Long, president of the Prostate Cancer Canada Network Thunder Bay.

“Men are typically afraid to go to the doctor and don’t get checked,” Long said. “If they don’t get checked, it doesn’t get diagnosed and it doesn’t get treated.

“Prostate cancer is very treatable. There’s very little need for men to die from prostate cancer, but this year there will be 4,000 men in Canada who do die from prostate cancer.”

On Friday Long and fellow survivors descended on city hall, where with the help of acting Mayor Brian McKinnon, they raised an awareness flag to bring the disease to the attention of passersby.

“It’s a visible sign and a reminder for me to get checked. It’s easy to forget, but hopefully when people are driving by city hall they see the flag with the tie and it will be a reminder that they need to make that appointment, that they need to talk to their doctor about it,” Long said.

“It’s a simple blood test.”

It’s recommended that all men have the test done when they turn 40, to establish a baseline, then have regular testing at doctor-recommended intervals. It’s especially important for high-risk patients, particularly those with a history of prostate cancer in their families.

“I think if we become aware of it … then we’ll be able to save a lot of lives,” McKinnon said. “That’s the objective and that’s why we’re here today.”

For more information, visit http://pccnthunderbay.org/