News

Prostate cancer survivors staying health aware

Mon, 16 Sep 2019 12:25:00

Mildura Base Hospital Prostate Cancer Nurse Craig Millard says rising survival rates for prostate cancer are great news – but present a growing challenge for clinicians supporting patients through diagnosis, treatment and beyond.

September is International Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and this year the focus is on “survivorship” of the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australian men.
Australia has one of the highest incident rates for Prostate Cancer in the world and Mr Millard said there are currently 200,000 Australian men living with the disease.
“Prostate Cancer Awareness Month is a great opportunity to remind men to be proactive about their health, in terms of awareness and testing, but also to help people to understand more about the challenges of recovering after diagnosis and treatment,” Mr Millard said.
About one in seven Australian men will be diagnosed with Prostate Cancer in their lifetime.
“In the Mildura area, that’s about one man diagnosed every week, and each diagnosis is a really confronting experience for the patient, their family and friends,” Mr Millard said.
“It’s great news that technology, treatment advances and earlier diagnosis means survival rates are rising – with the five-year survival rate now around 95 percent and ten-year survival an all-time high of 90 percent,” he said.
“But with so many men having treatment for long periods of time and living with the side effects of treatment, it’s equally important to understand that surviving, and surviving well, can be two different things for patients and their families.
“There can be profound side effects from treatment that can be life-changing and may take a physical and emotional toll, so doing well after diagnosis and treatment is about a lot more than simply surviving.”
Funding for Prostate Cancer Nurses has recently been secured for another three years, and Mr Millard said the nurses provide clinical and emotional support to help patients and their families navigate the health system.
“My role is to help men and their families through their diagnosis and treatment, and often the support goes on much longer than that – sometimes for years,” he said.
He said the availability of groups such as the Sunraysia Prostate Cancer Support Group were also critical in providing a social and peer support network.
“Being diagnosed with cancer can be a confronting, emotional and confusing process and while medical professionals provide support in every way possible, there’s also a lot to be gained from getting involved with a support group,” Mr Millard said.
“Men often find it very positive and empowering to be able to discuss treatment, their experiences and other issues with men who’ve been through, or are going through, similar things,” he said.

"With more men being diagnosed and more surviving the disease for longer, there is an ever-increasing number of blokes out there with challenging side effects, and we need to do all we can about looking after them and their families.”
For information, support, and to make a donation, go to pcfa.org.au.

Pictured:
MBH Prostate Cancer Nurse Craig Millard with cancer survivors Peter Ferry (left - diagnosed 2003) and Gary Smith (diagnosed 2010).  Prostate Cancer Support Group members catch up weekly for exercise (and a chat!) at the MBH Gym