Talk to your doctor about your prostate
September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and it is a perfect time to remind men with symptoms or a family history of prostate cancer to discuss any concerns they may have with their doctor.
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed internal cancer in Australia, with over 16,000 men diagnosed and close to 3,000 deaths each year. While prostate cancer is most common in men over the age of 50, younger men with a history of prostate cancer in their family are at greater risk.
Last year, the Government committed $15 million over five years from 2008-09 to establish two dedicated prostate cancer research centres in Australia.
Located at the Epworth Hospital in Melbourne and the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane, the research centres will work towards developing improved diagnostic and screening tools as well as new treatments for prostate cancer, to enable early detection and improve treatment outcomes.
Additionally, the Australian Government through the National Health and Medical Research Council, has invested $45.2 million for research involving prostate cancer since 2004, with 45 active grants in 2009 valued at $10.8 million.
The Rudd Government is also providing national leadership in the area of men’s health by developing Australia’s first National Men’s Health Policy.
The policy will take a ‘back to basics’ approach to improving the health and wellbeing of Australian men. It will address issues men face in accessing health care, engage with men about their health, and target men with poorer health outcomes.
Consultations for the policy are now complete with around 1,200 people having participated in over 20 consultation forums. The policy will be finalised in 2009.
Andrology Australia is funded by the Australian Government and provides information on men’s health issues such as prostate problems including prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, testicular cancer, low testosterone, male infertility and other related issues. They can be reached on 1300 303 878.
