Source: Prostate Cancer Foundation
The Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand (PCFNZ) is hitting the road this November, with a six-centre programme aimed at helping men living with advanced prostate cancer, and their families, better understand new and emerging options that are improving outcomes, and quality of life.
The Living with Advanced Prostate Cancer: Patient Information Series kicks off in Tauranga (11 Nov), followed by Hamilton (12 Nov), Auckland (13 Nov), Dunedin (18 Nov), Christchurch (19 Nov) and Wellington (20 Nov), and all are FREE to attend.
“Systemic therapy, radiotherapy, theranostics, imaging and new research discoveries over the past decade have transformed outcomes and quality of life for those living with the challenges of metastatic prostate cancer, yet understanding of what they are, how they co-exist, and fit within treatment pathways is still not widespread,” says Peter Dickens, Chief Executive, PCFNZ.
With the assistance of local oncology specialists and nurses, the events will explore this further, and allow health professionals, patients, and whānau to join the conversation and stay informed about the evolving treatment landscape for advanced prostate cancer in New Zealand.
The roadshow takes place against a bleak backdrop for those accessing care for advanced prostate cancer in our public health system. Many of the treatments that will be discussed are only available when sourced privately at costs running in some cases to hundreds of thousands of dollars for patients and families.
“Prostate cancer is now NZ’s most diagnosed internal cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in men, and yet there has not been a new medicine funded by Pharmac to treat the disease in over 10 years” says Dickens.
“NZ is at the very bottom of the OECD rankings when it comes to medicines funding, behind many demonstrably poorer countries. NZ men are having their lives unnecessarily cut short because of the failure of successive NZ governments to devise and fund a medicines policy fit for purpose for all in our country. This must change.”
