01 September 2022
Today for Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, the nation’s peak body for prostate cancer has launched a bid to achieve zero deaths from prostate cancer in Australia within 10 years.
Australia has one of the highest rates of prostate cancer in the world, with more than 66 men diagnosed every day.
Now, Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia says deaths from the disease could be eliminated within a decade, if health authorities and men join forces.
“More than 24,000 Australian men will be newly diagnosed this year, and more than 3,500 will die from the disease.
“With concerted action to detect prostate cancer at Stage 1, before it spreads outside the prostate, we can save lives,” says PCFA Chief Executive Anne Savage.
“Detected at its earliest stage, the five-year relative survival rate for prostate cancer is nearly 100 per cent, which means if we detect it while the cancer is contained within the prostate, we can almost certainly defeat it for good,” she says.
In a bid to radically improve early detection of the disease, PCFA is set to overhaul outdated guidelines for PSA testing.
“Over the past five years we’ve made tremendous progress in reducing risks of prostate cancer overdiagnosis, which means a greater focus of effort on population-wide earlier detection of the disease can provide a strong defence against the potential harms of prostate cancer, and the risks of death,” Ms Savage said.
“Ten men currently die every day, and this needs to change. Our plan is to do that life-saving work, by reforming the guidelines and giving men the greatest possible chance of beating this disease, while continuing our work to roll out new medicines and treatments to promote survival.”
The number of men being diagnosed with prostate cancer in Australia is expected to increase by 43 per cent from more than 240,000 today to 372,000 by 2040.
“Alarmingly, men with a family history of prostate cancer face double the average risk of prostate cancer, and around 630,000 men fall into this group. We must give them a fighting chance,” she said.
“The current guidelines do not provide men at a high risk of prostate cancer with clear guidance on detecting the disease early, and we plan to change that.”
September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, with PCFA calling for people to support its campaign by joining The Long Run at www.thelongrun.org.au.
“We’re calling for joint action to make prostate cancer history,” Ms Savage said.
Go to www.thelongrun.org.au to take part or phone 1800 22 00 99 for support.
ENDS
About Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia
PCFA is Australia’s leading community-based organisation for prostate cancer research, awareness, and support. PCFA’s vision is a future where no man dies of prostate cancer.
