I'm Dan Repacholi, Special Envoy for Men's Health, and it's a pleasure to be here today with Professor Chris Millross and Professor Dorothy Keefe.
Today we're launching the Prostate Cancer Expert Advisory Group, and we're holding our first meeting. This is a massive step forward for Australian men, for Aussie blokes.
Last year, just under 29,000 men in Australia were diagnosed with prostate cancer, and sadly around 4,000 passed away. That's about 11 men every day. Eleven dads, eleven brothers, eleven uncles, eleven cousins, eleven mates. Eleven great Aussie blokes missing from our communities.
The reality is prostate cancer is one of the most treatable cancers if it's caught early. We need to make sure men are getting tested, getting the right treatment, and have access to the right doctors.
That's what this group is all about. Bringing together the best minds in the business and people with lived experience to make sure we're doing what's right for Aussie men. We want men living longer, healthier lives. Being there for their families, their mates, and their communities.
I'm really looking forward to the work ahead and what we can achieve together.
I'll now hand over to my co-chair, Associate Professor Chris Millross.
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR CHRIS MILLROSS, CO-CHAIR OF THE PROSTATE CANCER EXPERT ADVISORY GROUP:
Thanks, Dan.
It's my pleasure to co-chair this group alongside Dan, and we're very excited about the future of prostate cancer care in Australia.
This advisory group brings together leading experts, along with patient representatives and not for profit organisations. We are all focused on achieving the best possible outcomes for men with prostate cancer.
That means improving survival rates, reducing treatment side effects, ensuring access to the best care, and supporting men throughout survivorship after treatment.
We are particularly focused on early diagnosis and improving the management of advanced disease. This group has the expertise to bring together the latest evidence and insights across all these areas.
Importantly, the people in this group are strong listeners to patients, to communities, and to the science. By working together and building strong connections, we're confident we can deliver meaningful improvements for men with prostate cancer across Australia.
I'll now hand over to Professor Dorothy Keefe.
PROFESSOR DOROTHY KEEFE, CEO, CANCER AUSTRALIA:
Thank you, Chris.
Cancer Australia is absolutely delighted to be hosting this Prostate Cancer Expert Advisory Group as part of the implementation of the Australian Cancer Plan.
This is a 10 year plan designed to improve outcomes for all people affected by cancer.
While prostate cancer has one of the highest survival rates, around 96 percent at five years, that still means, as Dan mentioned, around 4 percent of men die from the disease. Given how common prostate cancer is, that represents a significant number of lives lost, and we must do better.
Through this advisory group, we will work closely with consumers, men affected by prostate cancer, their families and communities, as well as researchers, clinicians, and governments.
We will examine every stage of the cancer pathway, from prevention and early detection through to diagnosis, treatment, and supportive care.
Many prostate cancers are slow growing and may not cause harm, so it is critical we identify which cancers need treatment and avoid over treatment where it is not necessary.
We also need to ensure equitable access to high quality care, particularly for people in regional and remote areas, and continue to invest in research and new treatments.
Finally, we must support men not only during treatment, but throughout survivorship and at end of life where needed.
Our goal is clear, to improve outcomes and ultimately to move that survival rate from 96 percent closer to 100 percent.
This is an important and exciting opportunity, and we look forward to the work ahead.
Thank you.
