Research into cost of disease
The financial burden of prostate cancer for Tasmanian men and their families will be highlighted by new research funded by the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.
The study, by Jessica Roydhouse from Hobart’s Menzies Institute for Medical Research, will look at the financial impact of prostate cancer to understand the role regional employers can play in supporting staff affected by the disease.
Dr Roydhouse has been awarded a PCFA grant as part of a $1.2 million initiative to advance cutting-edge research.
The PCFA is concerned prostate cancer sufferers in regional areas, including Tasmania, face greater obstacles to those in major cities when it comes to getting treatment, which can in turn affect their employment.
This includes increased travel time for appointments, limited access to diagnostic services, delayed diagnosis and prolonged intervals between diagnosis and treatment.
The Cancer Council says prostate cancer is the most common cancer in Tasmania, with about 560 men diagnosed each year.
Rick Bennett, 52, of Oakdowns, said being diagnosed with prostate cancer five years ago was both a health challenge and a financial hit. He underwent a radical prostatectomy and felt the pinch due to the constant urologist visits, MRI scans and treatment. “It was like money was flying out the door all the time,” he said.