Prostate cancer survivorship care: if not now, when?

Abstract

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in Australian men (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer) and it is estimated that there are over 220,000 Australian men living with a diagnosis of prostate cancer [1]. Survival for men with prostate cancer is excellent in countries that have accessible screening and treatment services, and in Australia five-year relative survival is over 95% [1]. High incidence coupled with improving long term survival leads to a corresponding high prevalence rate and high community disease burden. Many men with prostate cancer experience long term decrements in their mental and physical quality of life, overall they have a greater suicide risk that their non-cancer peers, and unmet supportive care needs are pervasive [2].