Making September Matter: The Story of Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

We all know the power of pink. The breast cancer ribbon has become a beacon of what's possible when a movement breaks through silence and stigma. It's everywhere in October, and it should be. That visibility has saved countless lives.

As Chief Mission Officer of ZERO Prostate Cancer, I see something different each September. Our blue ribbon doesn’t shine as brightly. It often slips by quietly, even though prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in men and the second-deadliest. One in eight men will face it in their lifetime. And still, blue doesn’t get the reach it deserves. That needs to change.
 

Where It Began

The story of this month begins in 1999, when the American Foundation for Urological Disease — now the Urology Care Foundation — first designated September as National Prostate Health Month. The effort was born from necessity. Too many men were being diagnosed too late. Too many families were devastated by outcomes that might have been preventable with earlier detection.

In 2003, President George W. Bush elevated the cause even further, officially naming it National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. That proclamation marked a turning point, recognizing prostate health not only as a medical issue but as a national one.

Why It Matters

Two decades later, awareness still hasn’t caught up. Prostate cancer often has no symptoms until it’s advanced. Every 15 minutes, another American man dies from the disease.
The statistics are even more alarming for some communities. Black men are 70% more likely to die from prostate cancer, and military veterans are twice as likely to be diagnosed.
But there is hope. The PSA blood test, a simple screening tool, can mean a 99% survival rate when prostate cancer is caught in its earliest stages. The challenge is getting more men to the doctor, breaking through stigma and silence, and making sure access to care is equitable.
When I read these statistics, I see the faces of men I love (my son, brothers, brother-in-laws, uncles, cousins, friends), and I refuse to accept that preventable loss should be their fate.
 

Where ZERO Prostate Cancer Comes In

ZERO Prostate Cancer has been part of this mission since before the month even existed. We were founded in 1996 as the National Prostate Cancer Coalition, standing with patients and families.

Today, ZERO is the nation’s leading provider of prostate cancer resources, programs, and advocacy. Our mission is simple but urgent: improve and save lives.
This year, we’re driving the boldest initiative in our history. Together with our Lead Founding Partner, Novartis, we launched Blitz the Barriers – a $20 million investment into the communities hit hardest by prostate cancer. It’s a bold step toward making sure no man is left behind.
 

What You Can Do

Pink has shown us what’s possible when a ribbon becomes a movement. Now it’s time to put that same bang into blue. Here’s what you can do:

• Get tested. Talk to your doctor about the PSA blood test. Don’t wait.
• Get talking. Have the hard conversations with your father, your brother, your friend. Silence costs lives.
• Get involved. Support the work — whether by giving your time, your dollars, or your voice — that ensures men everywhere have a fighting chance.

I hope you’ll join me in making this September truly matter. The men we love are counting on us.
 

—Brian Bragg, Chief Mission Officer