With the Angus Australia champion pen of Angus steers at the Hamilton Weaner Sale on 11 January were, from left, J. & J. Kelly agents Tyler Duynhoven and Tony Graham, with Roland, Susan and Andrew Cameron. The pen of 117 369kg steers averaged $2435. Image – Angus Australia.
PENSHURST Angus breeder Roland Cameron will do his bit to raise awareness of prostate cancer at the Warrnambool Annual Premier Weaner Sale this Friday.
He will donate the sale proceeds of two Angus heifers – with an estimated combined value of potentially $5000 – to the Male Bag Foundation.
The foundation raises funds to enable the purchase of transperineal biopsy machines for placement in public rural regional hospitals to help diagnose prostate cancer.
“I picked the two best heifers out of the drop of 350 heifers.
“I want the heifers to make decent money so I can give it to the cause,” he said.
Roland Cameron with the two Angus heifers he is donating. Image – South-West Victorian Livestock Exchange, Facebook.
In 2019, the 60 year-old was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. He was told he had a pea-sized tumour on his prostrate gland and was told if it was left untreated he would have an “expiry date” of six to eight years. After a successful operation to remove the tumour and now three years later he wants to dispel the myths around diagnosis.
He advised men to undergo regular blood tests to monitor their Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) levels without the fear that their privacy would necessarily be “invaded” by a posterior rectal examination.
“All you’ve got to do is go to your doctor (for a blood test) and say I’m above 50 years of age and in the case of where are genetic links, if you are above 40 years.”
Mr Cameron did not find out until just before his operation that his father died with “prostate issues” and he wanted to highlight awareness of the strong genetic risk of the condition within families and to relatives with breast cancer.
“There are so many varied outcomes with prostate cancer, but the clear message is if it gets detected early it is 98 percent fixable.”
The Camerons’ Athlone South operation sold 306 Angus weaner steers through Nutrien Livestock in Hamilton this year for an average price of $2373 and will also sell 90 Angus heifers and 40 steers in the Warrnambool sale through J.& J. Kelly.
Well done Roland. You are inspirational and on the front foot in joining the growing team around men’s health and awareness of how to avoid prostate cancer. Get on board fellas and book in for a prostate check. It’s a simple painless blood test and while you are booking in get your GP, eg doctor, to request the test for everything they can all at once, from the same blood test. Just do it and not only win a few votes with your family, but also give yourself some piece of mind.