19 January 2024
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia, with 70 men newly diagnosed every day.
With rates of diagnosis expected to rise, the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia is calling on men and women to take the pledge against prostate cancer via pcfa.org.au/pledge
Pledge participants will receive a free information kit about prostate cancer screening and early detection.
PCFA Chief Executive, Anne Savage, said the campaign aims to reduce the high number of men who are diagnosed in later stages once the cancer has spread.
“We know through research that if we detect prostate cancer early, we can beat it, given that five-year relative survival for prostate cancers detected at Stage 1 is nearly 100 per cent.
“Almost 4,000 Australian men are newly diagnosed each year with Stage 3 or 4 prostate cancers, which are lethal, contributing to more than 3,700 deaths each year.
“We urge everyone to take the pledge and share the information kit with their fathers, uncles, brothers, friends and coworkers.
“Our free information kit outlines prostate cancer risks and recommends steps for early detection, based on a simple blood test.”
The blood test checks for levels of Prostate Specific Antigen, or PSA, in the blood, which can be an indicator of prostate cancer.
“Men can request a bulk-billed PSA blood test from their General Practitioner, who can refer patients to a specialist for more tests if the results suggest a problem.
“The current guidelines recommend men with a family history of prostate cancer consider annual PSA testing from the age of 40. Men with no family history and no symptoms should consider testing from around the age of 50.
“In its earliest stages prostate cancer has no symptoms, which is why regular testing is so important. For those who may have symptoms, these can include changes in urination, blood in the urine or semen, or pain in the groin or pelvic region.”
For more information about the campaign, go to pcfa.org.au/pledge.
