We’ve barely recovered from hairy, prickly upper-lipped men showing their support for Movember (some Mo’s regrettably persisted well into the new year), only to find that a few thousand men will be running the streets of Jozi, the Mother City, Durbs and Mbombela in the Hollard Daredevil Run, wearing nothing more than purple speedos and their pride.

This purple spectacle happening on Fri 24 March 2017 attracts its fair share of shrieks and giggles from onlookers, but Hollard’s ballsy run underpins a far more important message.  Every participant is there with a shared goal – to run male cancers outta town by highlighting the importance of early detection and treatment of prostate and testicular cancer.

The Daredevil Run is also a run with a difference that makes a difference.  The run’s main beneficiary is the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA), an organisation that’s leading the fight against cancer in this country, with all proceeds from the run being donated to CANSA to help fund cancer screening and awareness programmes. Last year’s donation funded the mobile Hollard ‘ManVan’ which travels to disadvantaged communities to educate men in these areas about male-specific cancers.

Getting to grips with male cancer statistics

One in six South African men are affected by cancer in their lifetimes.  Late detection is the primary barrier to successful treatment that leads to full recovery, despite both prostrate and testicular cancers being mostly curable if caught sufficiently early. 

True fact:  For all their gung-ho manliness, men are uncomfortable with having their nether regions examined by a doctor,  until things have progressed to such serious levels of discomfort that they are forced to face up to the nuts and bolts of their health crisis. A survey from Orlando Health released last year asked men what would stop them from going for their annual medical check-up. The top three responses: Too busy (a complete cop-out), fear that “the doctor might find something seriously wrong”, and wanting to avoid the discomfort of body exams.

Statistics show that the lifetime risk for testicular cancer in men in South Africa is one in 2040, while the lifetime risk for prostate cancer is much higher at 1 in 27 according to CANSA. While the risk of developing prostate cancer increases with age, testicular cancer is the most common cancer in young men aged between 15-39 years.  These statistics should motivate you to get to know what’s really going on with your crown jewels, so that you can ensure a long, healthy and happy life for yourself, free of cancer. 

Early detection is good news, right?

For many patients an early cancer diagnosis, coupled with treatment, means that they can look forward to a standard life expectancy.  Surely this is good news, right? 

It depends.

There’s an early detection financial conundrum:  Early detection of cancer doesn’t necessarily reduce the unexpected cost of managing your recovery. You may think that you’re ok because you have an existing critical illness policy in place, but did you know that many traditional critical illness policies typically exclude early (stage 0) cancers?

When it comes to your financial planning for a health crisis, Hollard’s Daredevil Run carries another really important message – don’t wait until it’s too late! Get the complete peace of mind that you are fully covered for cancer, no matter what your future may hold. 

This is where Hollard Life’s Comprehensive Cancer Cover comes in. The defining feature of this benefit is that it provides complete cover for a wider range of cancers from stage 0 (early cancer) to stage 4. In other words, you’re covered for cancer from the very first diagnosis even if the cancer has not invaded the surrounding tissue. Hollard’s comprehensive cancer insurance covers you on diagnosis of both invasive and non-invasive tumours. Up to a maximum of R100 000 will be paid for an early cancer (stage 0) event, while any balance of the Comprehensive Cancer Cover will be available for any further claims. It’s available from Hollard even if you have your critical illness policy with another insurer.

Commit to annual health check-ups and get financially fit

If you happen to behold the spectacle of thousands of men tackling the Hollard Daredevil run, be reminded of the important message they carry – male cancers can be beaten if detected early, so get those annual health check-ups in place. 

Finally, talk to your financial advisor about Hollard’s Comprehensive Cancer cover and get financially fit to handle whatever crisis life may throw at you – and know that if cancer is in your future, the only thing you will need to worry about is your return to health.