Breaking the prostate cancer test barrier
Far greater public information should be made available about the dangers of prostate cancer, because just as many men die from it as women die from breast cancer.
Professor Tony Costello, the Director of Urology at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, says that bad mythology has developed around the treatment for prostate cancer. “It has been enhanced by a number of our public health bureaucrats talking about it as an old man’s disease, that the treatment is worse than the disease, and that if you have treatment for prostate cancer you end up sexually dysfunctional, incontinent, and wearing a nappy”.
Professor Costello said he did not believe that men were good enough advocates over the number one cancer for them. “Women have been fantastic in their advocacy (about breast cancer) and good on them, but I think we need more focused and strident advocacy from men about these issues”.
“While the breast cancer campaign has been a huge success, men are less likely to have their prostate tested. It seems that one reason is the fear of a latex covered finger in a sensitive spot.”
