Blue Monday is a fun day at Murdoch in aid of Prostate Cancer awareness

Monday 6 September 2010

St John of God Hospital Murdoch turned blue on Monday 6 September to help raise awareness for prostate cancer.

Joining in the theme promoted by the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, caregivers around the hospital wore blue and enjoyed a BBQ lunch with gold coin donations collected to support prostate cancer awareness.

It is estimated that more than 20,000 men are diagnosed and 3,300 men die from prostate cancer in Australia each year.

These statistics are particularly relevant to Nurse Manager of the Hospital’s Thomas Furlong Ward Tony Patton, one of the few male nurse managers at the hospital.

“This day was really important not only for our ward which mainly treats oncology patients, but I also think we have to take significant steps to help raise the profile of prostate cancer,” he said.

“Men generally spend much more time on car maintenance than they do on looking after themselves! Often in the early curative stages of prostate cancer there are no symptoms, so it’s very important that all men aged 50 and over see their GP at least annually,” Mr Patton said.

He added that men aged 40 and over with a family history of prostate cancer should see their GP.

Murdoch Chief Executive Officer, Peter Mott, said the hospital took every opportunity to help raise awareness in the community about key health issues.

“Days like this in our hospital are great fun for our caregivers and support a worthy cause, but also demonstrate our commitment to raising awareness about health issues in the wider community,” he said.

IMAGE: Caregivers on the hospital’s Thomas Furlong (top) and St Joseph’s (bottom) Wards enjoy a Blue Monday