Workforce Central Dunedin operations manager Raymond Clark said workers from the Dunedin hospital construction site were offered a free prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test, with 14 men taking up the offer.
"They were very grateful to have the test and it went very smoothly," Mr Clark said.
The event was a collaborative effort between Workforce Central Dunedin, Taste Nature Health, Awanui Labs and Prostate Cancer Foundation New Zealand.
The tests were conducted by Awanui Labs’ phlebotomy team leader Jane Walker and Taste Nature Integrative Health general practitioner Dr Zuzana Oravcova-Wheeler received the tests and consulted with the patients.
Prostate Cancer Foundation New Zealand Dunedin support co-ordinator Ken Cook said one in eight men in New Zealand will be diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Mr Cook said the foundation’s guidance was for all men over 50 to undergo yearly PSA testing.
For those with a family history of the disease it was recommended men start testing at 40.
"It is just a simple blood test once a year."
Regular testing each year helped uncover if there were any "spikes" that may indicate further investigation, Mr Cook said.
The health awareness drive was not just about testing, it was also about opening a conversation on men’s health that was often overlooked.
March Construction crane operator Mark Sims had a clear motivation to get tested during the early detection initiative .
"My dad had prostate cancer. He’s dead. That’s the only reason I did it. I don’t want to get cancer."
Mr Cook said there were good treatments available.
He was first treated for prostate cancer 15 years ago.
"And I am still around."
He encouraged people to get in touch with the foundation to find out more information about the challenges and also the options available for treatment.
