Prostate Cancer: Let No Man Get Left

Did you know that Australia has one of the highest incidences of prostate cancer, with one in six Australian men being diagnosed with the disease in their lifetime?

The Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA) is the peak national body for prostate cancer in Australia, and has recently called on the Federal Government to review Australia’s first clinical guidelines on prostate cancer testing, which were created five years ago.

The CEO of PCFA, Professor Jeff Dunn AO, said that research shows that 75 per cent of Australians don’t know about the current guidelines, 70 per cent of men don’t know the symptoms of prostate cancer, and 87 per cent of men diagnosed with prostate cancer don’t understand prostate stages at diagnosis.

“While survival rates for prostate cancer are high,” said Professor Dunn, “more than 3,000 men die each year, and around 17,000 are newly diagnosed.

“Worryingly, only 36 per cent of men are diagnosed at Stage 1 of the disease, when it is easier to beat, and the mortality rate in regional areas is 24 per cent than the Australian average”.

The PCFA has asked the Federal Minister for Health, Greg Hunt, to collaborate with the organisation to develop an updated set of evidence-based consumer and clinical guidelines to ensure awareness and informed decision making. It is hoped that the new guidelines will ensure that no man gets left behind.

If you want to support the work of PCFA, please go to: https://pcfa.org.au/donate

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• Health & Wellbeing