PLAN / THE TOP FIVE
1. WHAT IS THE PROSTATE? It is a walnut-sized gland that produces the fluids that are present in the ejaculate. It’s located under the bladder and the urethra runs through it. As men age, the prostate can enlarge and become generally more bothersome. And while these changes can be benign, the incidence of prostate cancer also rises with age. Most cases of prostate cancer don’t, initially, have symptoms, but when they are present, can include difficulty with urination. 2. FAMILY HISTORY MATTERS There’s nothing we know for sure that reduces prostate cancer risk, but if I had to pinpoint one thing, it would be to know your family history as there is a link between the risk of prostate cancer and other cancers in the family, such as ovarian and breast cancers in female relatives. The more we understand how different types of molecular mutation impact prostate cancer risk, or whether they cause more aggressive disease, the more important genetic knowledge will become.
4. TREATMENT OPTIONS A large proportion of prostate cancers are low grade and don’t need treatment. In this case you’ll be monitored closely using a process called active surveillance. For more aggressive cancers, there are many treatment options including radiotherapy, surgery or medical management via drug therapy. The newest option available on the PBS is Erlyand, one of a class of drugs called androgen receptor inhibitors that block testosterone levels and can extend people’s lifespan in cases where a hormone- dependent cancer has spread. 5. DON’T BE COMPLACENT Despite these advances, a few will fail the treatment options and develop incurable disease, so it’s essential that you have regular prostate examinations that might pick it up earlier. The search for new, personalised treatments for these men remains a focus in our unit at Monash, and around the world. Research areas include new radiotherapies and advances in immunotherapy.
PROSTATE CANCER CELLS
PINPOINTING PROSTATE CANCER Every year, more than 24,000 men in Australia
are diagnosed with prostate cancer and around 3,500 die of the disease. Professor Gail Risbridger, co-director of the Prostate Cancer Research Group at Monash University, reveals five essential things you need to know. Words HELEN FOSTER 3. KNOW YOUR PSA In the absence of symptoms, one main way to detect prostate cancer is using a PSA (prostate specific antigen) test. If you are aged over 50, guidelines suggest having a PSA test done every two years. We can’t use this as a general screening test as PSA levels can be increased due to other reasons, such as infection or enlarged prostate, but at an individual level it can be helpful to pinpoint changes early.
Be prepared for unexpected medical expenses with Seniors Health Insurance . Call 1300 936 012 or go to seniors.com.au
For more advice, contact the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia at pcfa.org.au or call 1800 220 099.
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