USANZ in the Media: Prostate Cancer Awareness
As part of Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in September, USANZ issued a media release about the importance of early PSA screening, especially for those with a family history of prostate cancer.
USANZ Member A/Prof Weranja Ranasinghe spoke about misconceptions about prostate testing, particularly the assumption of rectal examination which continues to be a barrier to screening. Weranja is the Deputy Leader of the USANZ Genitourinary (GU) Oncology Special Advisory Group.
Following this media release, NewsCorp featured a story about Melbourne architect James Murray, who was aware of a long family history of prostate cancer stretching back 5 generations to the 1840s. Aware of that history, James underwent regular and consistent testing from the age 40 to check for changes in his PSA levels, and was later diagnosed with prostate cancer. Thanks to that testing, James' cancer was detected early and was successfully treated with surgery.
The NewsCorp article has been syndicated across 11 outlets including the Daily Telegraph and Courier Mail. Read the article in the Herald Sun.
In addition:
- Clinton Maynard at 2GB's AustraliaOvernight interviewed James Murray, who encouraged men to undertake regular blood testing to monitor PSA levels and countered lingering assumptions of invasive investigations. Listen to the 2GB segment. This segment was also syndicated on 4BC Brisbane and 2CC Canberra.
- Australian Senior News published an article, focusing on USANZ's 'myth busting'. Access the Senior News article.
USANZ thanks Weranja for his important contributions to this public messaging.