Dear Viewer,

Unfortunately, our united force was unsuccessful at bringing Annual PSA Testing back, due to the decision made by the PCFA, NRMHM, Cancer Council, NSW Health Minister, and Labour govt.

But never fear, for I am here! Please direct donations to https://prostember.org/ so I can continue to help Aussie men, not just with contributions for their annual PSA test sum, but in care packages, hampers, and other ways which are just a start to my Prostember mission. Others may not budge, but where there's my will, I found a way.

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ONE OF THE LARGEST PSA TESTING PETITIONS IN THE WORLD

Open online petition backed by over 10,500 signatures urging investment into ANNUAL Prostate Specific Antigen testing in Australia -- the leading cancer in aussie men, in memory of a beloved father John, driven forward by daughter Lee from love, heartbreak and an unwavering determination to ensure her Dad's death wasn't in vain.

It's unacceptable that national progress for PSA Testing hasn't included an ANNUAL option for interested men forty on, by the PCFA's drafted guidelines. The PCFA need to match the scale of this crisis by re-drafting their 2025 updated clinical guidelines before more lives are cut short, after they let Prostate Cancer PSA testing lag behind for seven years.

United to demand more frequent testing for early diagnosis, to avoid devastating impact and improve survival rates. I don't want anyone else going through this nightmare, so I am spreading the message, because my Dad can't.

• PSA tests need to be available as an option for an ANNUAL CONTINUUM, not two yearly, since Prostate Cancer is a leading cancer known to spread rapidly during ANNUALLY.
• Funding is needed towards PSA testing campaigns to emphasise awareness, early detection and prevention. Instead of just treatments Post Prostate Cancer. (Thank you to the Albanese Government who invested into ▪︎ Adding three new treatments for prostate cancer to the PBS ▪︎ Given a $5 million investment to the pcfa fund research into innovative immunotherapy ▪︎ Given an additional $21.2 million to the pcfa to expand a prostate cancer nurse program - I think the pcfa could have pitched for some of it to be better spent on PSA testing campaigns to emphasise awareness, early detection and prevention, instead of just, treatments after diagnosis.

UPDATE:- ½ Victory! My eleven months mission has partially been welcomed, with the below changes to become implemented by the National Health & Research Council effective later this year in 2025;

• Interested men aged 40 will be offered a baseline PSA test WIN!

• Gp's will be recommended HOW? to initiate conversations about PSA testing and offer two-yearly testing to all men aged 50–69.

• A reversal stance against testing men over 70, recommending testing based on clinical assessment WIN!

• Reinforcement HOW? that digital rectal examinations are no longer recommended in primary care, removing a major barrier to testing for many men.

However, I have actually spent time getting to know others experiencing and affected inadvertently by Prostate Cancer.

1. One was travelling in Australia who went to get his 6 monthly PSA test at his own expense and in just that 6 months he was suddenly diagnosed at 47.
2. Another, her husband passed from Prostate Cancer and her high-risk son's now 32 and she wants to have him tested now, not wait until 40.
3. A gent had no family history, no symptoms, turned him away at 40 and two years later he had a Gleason of 9 and was in serious trouble.
4. Another lady agreed how terrible it is that most young men are unaware of what a PSA test is, let alone what Prostate Cancer is-with a 33yo son who doesn't have a clue and thinks he's invincible, so wouldn't think to ask for a test. She would like to see it made compulsory ANNUALLY, like voting.

A daughters legacy in honour of her late Dad, John Patterson

https://www.gofundme.com/f/raise-startup-funds-for-a-new-community-nfp-organisation

My Dad, John Patterson was a fit, active and healthy 70 year old, (who merely tested because a couple of his mates were battling with it) late diagnosed with advanced stage IV Prostate Cancer in 2017, with no prior symptoms. He then had surgery complications which caused incontinence, deteriorating his quality of life (before Alex Greenwich MP's applaudable voluntary assisted dying law passed). When in 2018 my Dad tragically, committed suicide. 

My name's Lee Patterson - a traumatised daughter, an unpaid advocate for Prostate Cancer awareness, PSA testing and a Suicide Prevention ambassador, having reached out in, and around my local communities of the Ulladulla NSW region where I was born & raised. Also branching out to anywhere between Sutherland north and Eden south, having alone bought masses of social media awareness to many South Coast families, reflective of my petition numbers. I then individually emailed hundreds of Parliamentarians with my story to raise awareness to them. I raised over $3,500.00 for Prostate Cancer through a walk and a barbecue and in turn the Shoalhaven was offered a Prostate Cancer nurse allocated to our region. I also fundraised over $800 for Lifeline Suicide Prevention through my 'Shine A Light' walk and with my young son's help in 'The Push-Up Challenge'. Prestin and I also did a Live TV interview on Channel 9 Weekend Today.

My Dad (together with my Mum) was nothing short of hard working to provide the very best for our family. Dad was a workaholic from a young age accepted as an apprentice, then eventually started his own business Tiger Signs, which when moving to Mollymook to settle to have children my Dad established a life lasting successful business all on his own from the ground up in his home garage. Eventually buying land with his workshop, and industrial units later built on Princes Highway coverage for prime exposure. Together with my Mum, they also owned a holiday home, which I find exceptional to appreciate Dads tireless efforts to build an empire. He was a strong, and smart man, quite the combination to possess, ensuring we had every opportunity in life, from being raised in a well-mannered & responsible home environment, being fully supportive of our sporting choices, to the best schooling. My petition which I've lead as a part of my five years campaigning, as Prostate Cancer was not in the headlines when my Dad died.

1. To the Prostate Cancer Foundation Australia, 

You must accelerate the time from symptoms to diagnosis and then to treatment. Invest in ANNUAL monitoring for all men from forty. Support the development and rollout re-drafted guidelines of ANNUAL detection tests.

It's a shocking backward step after moving, now keeping, PSA testing for all men to every 23 months. Instead, it should be back to ANNUALLY for ALL men from 40 years old, regardless of if not high risk with a family history. Considering Prostate Cancer is so aggressive, known to be a silent killer often with no symptoms, the leading cancer in aussie men, spreading rapidly in just ANNUALLY, let alone two years.

The purpose of PSA testing is EARLY DETECTION which means prevention. The key word is PREVENT there being any more high-risk patients in the first place by offering PSA's ANNUALLY after the new baseline from 40yo. Early detection with a simple ANNUAL Pathology blood test is the far better option, than increasingly late diagnosed in the duration of only two years, followed by complex surgeries, worse-unnecessary deaths.

Which do you the PCFA & govt prefer?

1. PREVENTION = simple, affordable, ANNUAL PSA Pathology blood tests

OR

TREATMENTS = $$$$$

1. Open surgery (Radical Prostatectomy) $$$$
2. Robotic-assisted Laparoscopic prostatectomy (Keyhole surgery) $$$$
3. Nerve-sparing surgery $$$$
4. Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP) $$$$
5. Orchiectomy (Surgical Castration) $$$$
6. Radiation Therapy:
7. External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT) $$$$
8. Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) $$$$
9. Brachytherapy (Internal Radiation Therapy) $$$$
10. Hormone Therapy (Androgen Deprivation Therapy - ADT) $$$$
11. LHRH agonists/antagonists: Medications (injections or implants) $$$$
12. Anti-androgens: Medications (tablets) $$$$
13. Chemotherapy $$$$
14. Focal Therapy:
15. High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) $$$$
16. Cryoablation $$$$
17. Laser ablation $$$$
18. Psychologists/mental health care teams $$$$

ANNUAL PSA testing is something we all want to see and feel all aussie men should have the best healthcare which means accessibility to more frequent testing.

Sincerely, a heartbroken Daughter, and,

The Australian People.

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