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Research Awareness Support: Ten Years of Progress in Prostate Cancer

2012 marks the 10th anniversary of the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia's Community Attitudes Survey. In this report they highlight the key results of this year's survey, based on the latest available figures from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

2012 Community Attitudes Survey


Areas highlighted include community awareness of prostate cancer as a top health issue; attitudes and behaviour towards testing; and attitudes and towards available support services.

Prostate Cancer is an important public health issue, with the latest figures from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare suggesting that with the rising Australian population, increasing life expectancy and the expectation of continuing increases in prostate cancer incidence, by 2020 the number of prostate cancers diagnosed will be somewhere between 25,000 and 31,000.

Given the impact the disease has and will continue to have on the community, the annual Community Attitudes Survey is a very important piece of research for PCFA as it helps to underpin their understanding of community attitudes towards prostate cancer, gauge how they are changing over time and also develop and improve the services and support that they offer to men and their families.

The report shows that men are much more aware of their health today compared to ten years’ ago.  Research shows a 12% increase in the number of men who feel informed about prostate cancer over the last decade. And more than 50% of men see prostate cancer as the most important health issue they face

It is noted that more men are now getting themselves tested with 9 out of 10 men tested by the time they reach their late 60s and more than 70% of men say they expect to have a test sometime in the future.  Interestingly, GPs are the main influencers for men to be tested with two thirds of men saying their doctor suggested or conducted a test. Two-thirds of men feel informed about the test, but worryingly almost 40% say the advice they receive about the test is confusing.

For some time now it has been thought that men unlike women are bad at seeking help.  PCFA's survey found that one quarter of men sought help on being diagnosed and found information and support services very valuable. However, they also found that men are often unaware of what is available and need their doctors and other health professionals to be more proactive in guiding them to support services.

These are just some of the highlights from the 2012 Survey.  To read the full version of the report, please visit the PCFA website.

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