By Michelle Sumegi, Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurse, Icon Cancer Centre
For men diagnosed with prostate cancer, the experience from diagnosis through treatment and beyond can feel different for each person. At a time when clarity, guidance and reassurance are needed most, Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurses (PCSNs) play a critical role in bridging the gap between clinical treatment and holistic patient care.
As the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australian men, prostate cancer affects more than 26,000 men each year, with over 275,000 men currently living with the disease. With these numbers projected to rise significantly as our population ages, the need for comprehensive, accessible support has never been greater. That's where Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurses come in.
All PCSN roles are part of Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia's Specialist Nursing Service, with some roles funded by organisations like Icon Cancer Centre to help expand care.
What is a Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurse?
A Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurse is a dedicated, highly skilled nurse who focuses on supporting men with prostate cancer and their families. We work alongside doctors and the broader multidisciplinary team to provide expert education on diagnosis, treatment options, and side-effect management. Just as importantly, we act as a consistent, reliable point of contact, someone who understands a patient's history and can anticipate their concerns.
This continuity of care has been shown to improve both clinical outcomes and patient experience, helping men and their loved ones navigate what can often be a complex and lengthy cancer journey.
Why specialist nursing matters
The expansion of PCSN roles within Icon Cancer Centre, in partnership with Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA), represents an important step forward in ensuring equitable access to high-quality prostate cancer care.
From a health system perspective, specialist nurses reduce fragmentation by coordinating care across multiple providers, supporting timely referrals, and helping patients manage treatment side effects. This can reduce unnecessary emergency department visits and hospital admissions, easing pressure on the health system.
For many of my patients and their families, the benefits are deeply personal: continuity, reassurance, and a trusted guide who can empower them to make informed decisions. International evidence consistently demonstrates that specialist nurses improve both clinical and psychological outcomes, underscoring their essential role in modern cancer care.
Expanding access across Australia
Icon Cancer Centre has recently funded ten new Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurse positions across key Icon locations in South Australia, New South Wales, Queensland, the ACT and Western Australia, including Rockingham, Canberra, Gosford, Maitland, Redland, Springfield and Ipswich. This also includes the first Icon-based PCSN role in Adelaide covering Icon Cancer Centres at Windsor Gardens, Kurralta Park, North Adelaide and Noarlunga, a milestone that will ensure more men and families in South Australia have access to tailored, evidence-based support close to home.
These new positions build on existing PCSN roles already embedded within Icon centres in Melbourne, Perth, and across Queensland.
Supporting men through every stage
Our role is not confined to a single phase of treatment, we are there from the time of diagnosis, through active treatment, and into care after treatment.
By developing strong relationships, we can anticipate emerging challenges, intervene early, and ensure patients remain engaged in their care. This proactive, personalised approach makes a meaningful difference not only to clinical outcomes, but also to the wellbeing and confidence of men and their families.
A stronger future for prostate cancer care
The growing number of PCFA Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurses across Icon Cancer Centre represents more than an investment in individual patient care. It is also an investment in the sustainability of our health system.
As demand for prostate cancer services continues to rise, specialist nursing will remain at the forefront of delivering coordinated, evidence-based care that enhances both survival and quality of life. For men facing prostate cancer and the families who walk alongside them, this expansion means greater access to the right support, at the right time, in the right place.
At Icon Cancer Centre, we are proud to work in partnership with PCFA to strengthen prostate cancer care nationwide. By embedding Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurses into cancer centres across Australia, we are helping ensure that every man receives the expert, compassionate support he deserves, today and into the future.
