Sports
Football Refs Throw The Flag On Prostate Cancer
Blue flags replace the traditional yellow penalty flags
Blue penalty flags were flying high at Friday night during the / football game as Washington high school football officials raised the profile of Prostate Cancer Awareness Month by replacing traditional yellow penalty flags with blue flags during varsity games played throught this weekend.
The campaign is called "Coaches Against Cancer" and is sponsored by Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. This campaign was the recipient of the 2010 Communitas Award.
"In most situations, officials want to avoid attention during games, but for three days we are hoping to attract a little attention with every penalty that is called," said Todd Stordahl, WOA Commissioner. "By switching to blue flags, it will at least make the fans notice that something is different. This is a great way for the officials to participate in an activity that will help bring awareness to something that has had an impact on many lives including some of those who are out on the field as officials."
September is National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. According to The American Cancer Society's most recent estimates for prostate cancer in the United States, about 240,890 new cases of prostate cancer, and about 33,720 deaths from prostate cancer will occur in 2011. Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer found in American men, other than skin cancer.
Prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in men, behind lung cancer. One in every six men will get prostate cancer during his lifetime, and one in 36 will die of this disease. More than two million men in the United States who have had prostate cancer at some point are still alive today.
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Men over the age of 40 should talk to their doctors about prostate cancer screening and lifestyle changes that can reduce their risk of getting the disease. The Hutchinson Center has an online guide to healthy living for men that offers advice on diet and screening. More information on prostate cancer can be found on that site by clicking here.
