By Mike Bonnor

At the September meeting of Cowra Mens’ Probus Club, President Richard Oliver inducted Peter Boler as the newest member of the club.

After this Richard thanked Jeff Yates for standing in as secretary for Allan Vorias.

He also made the aware that October is Probus month where the organisation is trying to enthuse older men in the community to become members.

There is no compulsion to raise moneys for charity.

The main thrust of the club is to have a social effect and companionship.

The guest speaker for the morning meeting was one of the Cowra Probus and rotary club members.

Ian brown was introduced by President Richard Oliver.

Ian is a retired Cowra community pharmacist and shire councillor.

Ian spoke on the subject of mens’ health supporting an initiative of the rotary club Townville sunrise the “know your score” project on their mission to save lives through the early detection of prostate cancer and the benefits of early testing and guidance from your GP.

The national health and medical research council has only recently released new guidelines for the PSA testing and early management of detected prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is a significant public health issue as it is the second most diagnosed cancer in Australian men with risk of being diagnosed by age 75 is 1 in 7 and by age 85 increasing to 1 in 5.

PSA blood testing is recommended from age 40.

However early diagnosis with a PSA test and treatment compared with other cancers prostate cancer has one of the highest 5 year survival rate with a 92% chance of surviving for at least 5 years .

As many of the Probus members are in their age area of Prostate problems there were many questions that the members directed to Ian

The vote of thanks for Ian’s talk was given by Terry Koen.