A grassroots fundraiser six years in the making has paid off after a group of Noosa men successfully funded a full-time prostate cancer nurse for the community.
The Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA) nurse has been funded with the support of the Noosa Prostate Association (NPA), a group of local men who have been fundraising since 2018 to raise local awareness of the disease.
Richard Bennet, the treasurer-secretary of the local group, was thrilled to have achieved the goal.
“With more than 5000 men in our area impacted by prostate cancer, a prostate cancer specialist nurse for Noosa is long overdue,” he said.
“We’re very proud to be working in partnership with PCFA and Icon Cancer Centre to bring our vision to fruition.
“All funds raised from our annual luncheons will support the position, improving early detection and treatment of men in the local area.”
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Icon Cancer Centre CEO Paul Fenton said the PCFA nurse would support newly diagnosed men as well as those undergoing treatment.
“Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Noosa and surrounding areas of the Sunshine Coast, with increasing numbers of men impacted by the disease as the region’s population increases,” he said.
“We look forward to welcoming the nurse to our team ahead of the opening of Icon Cancer Centre Noosa mid-year, and they will be ready to hit the ground running, providing information, advice and expert care to Icon patients.
“Having access to the support of a prostate cancer specialist nurse will further enhance the multi-disciplinary care that we can provide locally to men with prostate cancer.”
The nurse is expected to start work within weeks at Icon Cancer Centre Maroochydore, supporting patients throughout the region, and will be based permanently at the new Icon Cancer Centre at Stockwell’s Noosa Civic Medihub, which is currently under construction.
The new position will complement the existing care provided by urologists, radiologists, GPs, oncologists and support groups in Noosa and surrounds.
PCFA director of nursing Sally Sara said hundreds of men in the area would benefit from the appointment.
“Around 400 men in the region are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year and only 16.7 per cent of cases are diagnosed at Stage 1, compared to the national average of 36.8 per cent, which means the need for specialised care and early detection is significant,” she said.
“We’re grateful to the Noosa Prostate Association and its supporters for working with us to bring a PCFA nurse to the local region.”
To find out more about the service visit www.pcfa.org.au.
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