Prostate cancer accounts for 13% of all cancer deaths in Australian men. With 1 in 5 men being diagnosed with prostate cancer before the age of 85, it is a significant cause of disease burden in our older population. (Source – Cancer Council Australia)
The prostate is a gland of the male reproductive system. Cancer of the prostate currently has no known definitive cause however the incidence does increase with age.
In association with the Trans-Tasman Radiation Oncology Group (TROG), Hunter researchers have made several important discoveries about the development and treatment of prostate cancer.
In 2014, researchers reported a new combination of anti-cancer drugs and radiation which was successful in treating men with newly-diagnosed aggressive prostate cancer.
Researcher and Radiation Oncologist Professor Jim Denham said the results were better than expected – the treatment would likely have a knock-on effect of a 30-40% lower death rate among men fighting this type of cancer.
