Fears health system will buckle under weight of massive spike in cancer diagnoses

It’s already the most common cause of cancer-related hospitalisations in Australia and, with its numbers soaring, there are fears this could cripple our hospital system.

A man about to undergo an MRI scan for prostate cancer, which is the most common cause of cancer-related hospitalisations in Australia and numbers are soaring. Picture: iStock

Fears grow that the hospital system could buckle under the shocking rise in a men’s life-threatening cancer.

The latest data shows Queensland saw a 572 per cent increase in the number of prostate cancer cases from 705 in 1982 to 4741 in 2018 - outstripping population growth - and predictions show numbers will continue to soar.

Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA) has warned that more needs to be done to ensure the health system can cope with the rising demand for services caused by the nation’s ageing and increasing population.

Prostate cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related hospitalisations in Australia, accounting for an overall burden of nearly 10 per cent of all hospitalisations and around 16 per cent of all cancer-related male hospitalisations.

In 1982, when cancer data records began in Australia, just 3606 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer. This compares to a figure of 24,217 today and a forecast of 29,620 men by 2032.

New projections by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare also show the male Australian population will increase by around 13 per cent by the end of 2032, while over the same time period, prostate cancer case numbers are projected to increase by around 21 per cent.

PCFA chief executive Anne Savage, called for national leadership to help address the dangerous disease.

“At least 80 men will be diagnosed every day by the end of the decade and many thousands of men will be left standing in line waiting for lifesaving surgeries and treatment,” she said.

“Right now there are nearly 250,000 Australian men living with or beyond their diagnosis, many of whom struggle to access services for the debilitating side-effects of their treatment, such as incontinence and sexual dysfunction,” she said.

The Foundation reports that much greater action is required on early detection, timely treatment, and research into therapies.

AIHW data also shows that more Australian men are now reaching the age where they face significantly higher risks of prostate cancer, with greater incidence rates of the disease among those over 65.

PCFA Chief of Mission and Head of Research, Professor Jeff Dunn, called for action on awareness and education.

“The average five-year survival rate was just 58 per cent in 1982. It’s 95.5 per cent today, which demonstrates the impact of previous investments in research, however, as the population ages, we are facing a significant risk that the health system will struggle to cope with the number of men being diagnosed,” he said.

“We are calling on Australians to tackle 22km during Men’s Health Week from June 12 to 18 to raise funds.”

Visit https://www.perfectmatch.org.au/