Prostate cancer research in the Hunter region, NSW

The new Hunter Prostate Cancer Centre will join forces with the Hunter Prostate Cancer Alliance and the Trans-Tasman Radiation Oncology Group’s (TROG) prostate cancer to address the high number of prostate cancer deaths in the Hunter region, NSW.

Professor Jim Denham, a researcher at the University of Newcastle and Calvary Mater Newcastle who is also head of TROG, said the new centre which opened in March 2009 would focus on research programs, treatment, expand counselling support services and public awareness of prostate cancer.

Professor Denham indicated that the Hunter region has the worst death rate from prostate cancer in NSW and is 25% higher than in metropolitan Sydney.

A local awareness campaign in 2007 has resulted in a larger number of PSA tests and men being diagnosed much earlier. Men in the Hunter region are also benefiting from the 96.01 trial which has been running since 1996 shows that a hormone therapy given to men with locally-advanced prostate cancer a few months before radiotherapy can help stop the cancer returning after the treatment and reduce cancer deaths. Results from this trial are expected in 2012.

http://www.newcastle.edu.au/news/2009/03/prostatecancerresearch.html

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