More than a year after cancer diagnosis still no surgery

Alex MacKenzie got the crushing diagnosis of prostate cancer more than a year ago but he is yet to get an appointment for the lifesaving surgery he needs.

Alex MacKenzie, 72, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in October 2022 and still does not have an appointment for surgery to remove the cancer.

His wait time on the public system so far is three months after he switched from private and weighed up his treatment options after a public system diagnosis in May, preferring surgery to radiotherapy, but says he faces at least another six month wait.

“I want it out asap but have been told I am looking at May next year — hopefully,” he said.

“There is such a large backlog of patients the public system can’t keep up.

“I feel frustrated and tired, I want this thing out of my body. I know it is slow growing but it has worried me enough to lose 13kg.”

The retired carpenter from Craigmore is classified as a category 2 case, where treatment is required within 90 days — he was put on the wait list on August 23.

“They tell me it is minimal and there is plenty of time but it is a source of stress and worry — I just want to be told when it will be done and have it gone,” he said.

SA Health figures show as of Monday there were 19,442 people listed as ready for elective surgery and 3281 were overdue. The urology list had 2367 ready for surgery and 618 listed as overdue.

However, the maximum wait time to see a hospital specialist for a urology appointment — before being put on a wait list for surgery if needed — is 58 months at Flinders Medical Centre, 52 months at Lyell McEwin Hospital, 47 months at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, 21 months at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and 15 months at Modbury Hospital.

Health Minister Chris Picton tweeted the overdue elective surgery list has improved with 990 fewer people waiting since Labor was elected.

The overdue elective surgery list has improved with 990 fewer people waiting since Labor was elected last year

— Chris Picton MP (@PictonChris) November 27, 2023

Opposition leader David Speirs called on the government to investigate bottlenecks forcing prostate cancer patients like Mr MacKenzie to endure lengthy waits for surgery.

“A cancer diagnosis is a frightening experience that shouldn’t come with an unwanted side effect – the agony of waiting for surgery,” Mr Speirs said.

Opposition leader David Speirs and health spokeswoman Ashton Hurn with Alex MacKenzie. Picture Dean Martin

“We are constantly told that when it comes to cancer early detection is key and that early treatment leads to better outcomes – so waiting over a year for prostate cancer surgery is simply unacceptable.”

Mr Picton said the government was working hard to “address the backlogs inherited from the Liberals who let overdue elective surgery wait lists blow out.”

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer detected in South Australian men, with more than 1300 men diagnosed every year.

In 2016 the Sunday Mail revealed 52 men received false positives for prostate cancer and one later received “unjustified” radiotherapy treatment.