Our Vision
Eliminating death and suffering from prostate cancer. We will achieve this through offering peer support to men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer (and their families); actively promoting awareness of this disease through community promotions, including our Blue September campaign; funding research; and advocating for patients. More…
Men should be offered PSA test: new recommendation from U.S. authority
In a change of position, the U.S. Preventative Services Taskforce has reversed its earlier recommendation against PSA screening, to now recommend that men aged 55-69 make an individual decision about prostate cancer screening with their clinicians but recommends against routine screening for men age 70 and older. The new recommendation is based on new evidence that shows there are now more options, and therefore more information available to clinicians and patients when deciding whether or not to undergo treatment.
The adoption of more Active Surveillance, better MRI imaging capability in the diagnostic process and a growing understanding of the disease have all contributed to this new decision, which is largely in line with the New Zealand Guidelines published in 2015. Read the LA Times story about this decision, see the U.S. Recommendation here. Watch this CBS news piece.
ACC-funded bladder neck stents now available in NZ
In a New Zealand first, bladder neck stents have been implanted in two men with bladder neck contracture, following radical prostatectomies. Dr Jim Duthie, prostate cancer surgeon and medical advisor to the Prostate Cancer Foundation is very excited about this new tool in the arsenal to treat bladder neck contracture following prostate cancer surgery and has high hopes for it. The great news is that ACC will cover the costs of this procedure through the private system, whether or not the original surgery was public or private.
Bladder neck contracture occurs when scar tissue develops at the surgical join between the bladder and urethra (anastamosis), and it happens to between 8 and 12% of men. Current treatment is to stretch or cut through the scar tissue, but it often recurs and can be a real burden in some men. The two men treated today were in this situation, and so had nothing to lose from trying the new procedure. The stent is especially designed to be anchored in the urethra with a narrow wire that goes across the sphincter so that continence is preserved. If the stent is ineffective it can be removed easily under local anaesthetic. The guys with bladder neck contracture can have a really miserable time of it, so this is a great tool for when all else has failed.
Dr Duthie explains how it all works in this video
Contact us for further information.
Latest News
It was an honour today to present Sir Peter Leitch Honorary Membership of the Prostate Cancer Foundation. Sir Peter has been a longtime support and patron of the Foundation, and staunch advocate for prostate cancer awareness. His no-holes-barred approach to reminding blokes to get checked has undoubtedly saved lives and resulted in better outcomes for… Patient and health sector feedback is sought on a draft prostate cancer Position Statement created by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists’ (RANZCR) Faculty of Radiation Oncology. The ‘Informed Decision Making in the Management of Localised Prostate Cancer – A Patient Focused Perspective’ statement advocates for men with prostate cancer to be fully informed about treatment options, including… There has been a resurgence of debate around inequalities in the testing for, and treatment of, prostate cancer. While there have been some significant advances in the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer over the years, the inequalities continue. In Saturday’s New Zealand Herald Simon Wilson questions if ‘ignorance is bliss’ is the official cancer policy….
Sir Peter Leitch: Honorary Member
Prostate cancer position statement: feedback sought
The debate continues…