07 June 2023

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The number of Australian men being diagnosed with prostate cancer is significantly outpacing population growth, with new data revealing a 571 per cent increase in case numbers between 1982 and today.

The figure compares to just a 73 per cent increase in Australia’s male population, vastly outstripping overall population growth.

Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA) has warned that more needs to be done to ensure the health system can cope with the rising demand for services caused by the nation’s ageing and increasing population.

In 1982, when cancer data records began in Australia, just 3,606 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer. This compares to a figure of 24,217 today and a forecast of 29,620 men by 2032.

New projections by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare also show the male Australian population will increase by around 13 per cent between 2022 and 2032, while over the same time period, prostate cancer case numbers are projected to increase by around 21 per cent.

PCFA CEO, Anne Savage, called for national leadership to help address the severely life-limiting disease.

“At least 80 men a day will be diagnosed every day by the end of the decade and many thousands of men will be left standing in line waiting for life-saving surgeries and treatment,” she said.

“Right now there are nearly 250,000 Australian men living with or beyond their diagnosis, many of whom struggle to access services for the debilitating side-effects of their treatment, such as incontinence and sexual dysfunction.

“Prostate cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related hospitalisations in Australia[1], accounting for an overall burden of nearly 10 per cent of all hospitalisations and around 16 per cent of all cancer-related male hospitalisations.

“Of particular concern to health policy makers, Australian health system expenditure on prostate cancer is already at a record high of $1.35b annually, making it one of the nation’s most costly conditions to treat and the costliest cancer-related condition to treat.

“Much greater action is required on early detection, timely treatment, and research into therapies that can be made available to men at a much faster pace.”

AIHW data also shows that more Australian men are now reaching the age where they face significantly higher risks of prostate cancer, with greater incidence rates of the disease among those over 65.

“Over the past four decades we have lifted survival rates from 58 per cent to more than 95 per cent, but because of the high prevalence of prostate cancer, more than 3,500 men in our community still die from the disease every year.

“If we accelerate research to continue this positive survival trend, many thousands of men will survive their diagnosis.

“Today nearly 9,000 more Australian men will survive their diagnosis for at least five years because of the improvement we have witnessed over the past 40 years – we can’t afford to stop now.”

PCFA Chief of Mission and Head of Research, Professor Jeff Dunn, called for action on awareness and education.

“One Australian man is diagnosed with prostate cancer every 22 minutes,” he said.

“The average five-year survival rate was just 58 per cent in 1982. It’s 95.5 per cent today, which demonstrates the impact of previous investments in research, however, as the population ages, we are facing a significant risk that the health system will struggle to cope with the number of men being diagnosed.

“Research is the solution that holds the greatest promise, and we want to see Australia leading this work.”

In the lead up to Men’s Health Week in June, PCFA has kick-started an appeal for prostate cancer research, with all donations matched by sponsors.

“Our aim is to raise around $500,000 for new early career grants that could help us find the key we need to beat this disease,” Professor Dunn said.

“We are calling on Australians to tackle 22kms during Men’s Health Week to support Australian men and their families by raising awareness and funds for research in PCFA’s campaign, the Perfect Match, with all donations doubled by our major sponsors.”

Campaign Sponsors include Tyrepower and Hire A Hubby. Go to www.perfectmatch.org.au to find out more.

 

ENDS

For media enquiries, contact:
Laura McKoy | M. 0435 094 788

 

[1] Excluding non-melanoma skin cancers.