15 August 2024
Prostate cancer accounts for nearly 16 per cent of all cancers diagnosed in Australia, according to new data published by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
The surge in cases to 26,368 per year is equivalent to 72 men diagnosed each day, while nearly 11 men will die from the disease every 24 hours.
The figures continue prostate cancer’s record as the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia, with 26,368 diagnoses compared to 21,194 cases of breast cancer as the second most commonly diagnosed cancer.
Australia’s peak body for prostate cancer has described the news as a wake-up call.
Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia CEO, Anne Savage, said the data provided further justification for a nationwide awareness campaign on the disease.
“The toll prostate cancer takes on the lives of everyday Australians is tremendous,” she said.
“Beyond the high burden of lives lost and the cruel side effects of treatment, prostate cancer costs more than $1.35 billion to treat every year and accounts for more hospitalisations than any other form of cancer.
“We must do more to support early detection and timely treatment with the very latest medicines.
“More than 3,900 Australian men will die from prostate cancer this year, which is an unacceptable price to pay for a disease that is eminently treatable if we detect it early.”
PCFA Chief of Mission and Head of Research, Professor Jeff Dunn AO, said greater awareness would be key to reducing deaths from the disease.
“PCFA surveys have found that 75 per cent of Australians do not know the PSA test guidelines, an alarmingly high level of unawareness that impedes early detection and diminishes population-wide survival prospects.
“If we can diagnose all men at the earliest stage and ensure they have access to new medicines and care, we can beat this disease. For men with a family history of disease, we need to give much clearer guidance about their risks and screening options.
“Awareness is key – if we don’t step up and take action, Australian men will continue to die unnecessarily,” he said.
PCFA has also raised concerns about the nation’s capacity to provide best-practice nursing care for the growing number of men being diagnosed with the killer disease and has called for the expansion of specialist nursing services.
Chief Executive Officer, Anne Savage, said the number of men living with the disease is expected to increase by as much as 50 per cent between now and 2040.
“Over recent years we have seen a fourfold increase in the proportion of men waiting for more than a year for some forms of treatment,” she said.
“With our ageing and increasing population, the number of men being diagnosed will continue to increase rapidly, placing our health system at risk of crisis if we fail to expand specialist services to support newly diagnosed patients.
“We cannot afford to underestimate the impact this will have on our health services, knowing that prostate cancer accounts for more hospitalisations than any other type of cancer in the country.
“Urgent investment is needed in awareness and early detection, together with the expansion of specialist nursing services to ensure safe, timely, and effective care. Without immediate action Australia will be confronted by an increase in excess avoidable deaths from prostate cancer.”
More than 250,000 Australian men are alive today after a diagnosis of prostate cancer at some point in the past 40 years.
For more information and to find a local support group, call 1800 22 00 99 or go to www.prostate.org.au.
