Blue September

*Every year, 60,000+ men are diagnosed with cancer – 36% of that number dies. A staggering 30% more men than women die of cancer.

Blue September is a month in which we celebrate and remember the men who are important to us, and encourage them to start thinking about their health and family histories with cancer.

Just as important, Blue September is about supporting world-class research into the cancers that commonly affect men – cancers such as prostate, bowel, melanoma of the skin and lung cancers. Blue September raises both awareness and funds for Fighting Cancer in Men. It supports both the Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF) and Australian Prostate Cancer Research (APCR).

Blue September’s key mission in 2016 is to raise funds to end cancer by providing world-class researchers with the equipment they need to improve prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer and to build Australia’s first robotic surgery training simulation centre.

For example, trainee surgeons need access to an environment that simulates a real-life operating theatre, an environment to train and perfect techniques. In a robotic simulation centre surgeons can be mentored and trained to perform procedures as they would in an operating theatre. Robotic surgery for prostate, bladder and kidney cancer improves the outcomes for patients by reducing blood loss and transfusion rates, reducing patient pain post-operatively and by reducing hospital stay after surgery.

Blue September invites all Australians to Join the Fight and set up a fundraising page, purchase Blue September merchandise or simply donate.

Go to blueseptember.org.au

*Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2012