Download audio grabs from PCFA CEO Anne Savage here.
It’s a disease that kills nearly 10 Australian men every day, and now Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia is urging eligible men to take a pledge to test for prostate cancer.
The organisation is calling on men over the age of 40 to sign up via fundraise.pcfa.org.au/pledge to receive a free information kit about prostate cancer screening and early detection.
PCFA Chief Executive, Anne Savage, said the kit would be accessible to all.
“Our aim is to raise awareness of prostate cancer risks and early detection, to help combat the high number of Australian men who are being diagnosed once the disease has spread.
“We know that if we detect prostate cancer early, we can beat it, given that five-year relative survival for prostate cancers detected at Stage 1 is nearly 100 per cent.
“Tragically, nearly 4,000 Australian men are newly diagnosed each year with Stage 3 or 4 prostate cancers, which are lethal.”
Prostate cancer is Australia’s most commonly diagnosed cancer, with over 25,000 men newly diagnosed each year and around 250,000 Australian men alive today after a diagnosis.
“Very few Australians know the current guidelines for prostate cancer screening, which is why we’re taking action,” Ms Savage said.
“Everyone can take the pledge and share the information kit with the men in their lives.
“The kit helps to explain prostate cancer risks and recommends steps for early detection, based on a simple blood test.”
The blood test checks for levels of Prostate Specific Antigen, or PSA, in the blood, which can be an indicator of prostate cancer.
“Men can request a bulk-billed PSA blood test from their General Practitioner, who can refer patients to a specialist for more tests if the results suggest a problem.
“Men with a family history of prostate cancer should consider yearly PSA testing from the age of 40 and men with no family history and no symptoms should consider testing from around the age of 50.
“Men who develop any of the symptoms of prostate cancer should see their GP immediately for a PSA test.
“In its earliest stages, prostate cancer has no symptoms, but warning signs can include changes in urination, blood in the urine or semen, or pain in the groin or pelvic region.”
The campaign is being supported by Hire A Hubby, with more than 300 franchisees nationally agreeing to take the pledge.
Hire A Hubby CEO, Brendan Green, urged the community to get involved.
“Hire A Hubby has proudly supported PCFA for the past 10 years, in which time the number of men diagnosed each year has increased more than 20 per cent, rising from 19,779 to 25,000.
“Over the next 10 years, that number is going to increase by 20 per cent again, rising from an increasing base, which means thousands of men in our community will need our support.
“Many of my franchisees have been impacted and we are committed to taking action to improve prostate cancer awareness and early detection.”
Since 2013, Hire A Hubby has donated more than $600,000 to prostate cancer research, awareness and support, contributing $2 from every invoice to Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.
