To the Australian public, PLEASE leave your comments (if you cant comment twice on this petition, on social media ( https://www.facebook.com/groups/1496016527594979/?ref=share&mibextid=NSMWBT )) regarding this update, so I can put forward further supporting evidence to the foundation who is responsible for leaving these important policy changes out of the new guidelines. Before it's too late!

The issue
■ 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 each year.

■ 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 fund research into innovative immunotherapy ▪︎ Given an additional $21.2 million to expand a prostate cancer nurse program - Though, I think it could have been better spent on PSA testing campaigns to emphasise awareness, early detection and prevention, instead of just treatments.)

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 and 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. 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. 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. 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.

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 11 monthly for ALL men from 40 years old, regardless 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 a year, 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 prefer?

PREVENTION = simple, affordable, annual PSA Pathology blood tests, or

TREATMENTS = $$$$$
Open surgery (Radical Prostatectomy) $$$$
Robotic-assisted Laparoscopic prostatectomy (Keyhole surgery) $$$$
Nerve-sparing surgery $$$$
Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP) $$$$
Orchiectomy (Surgical Castration) $$$$
Radiation Therapy:
External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT) $$$$
Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) $$$$
Brachytherapy (Internal Radiation Therapy) $$$$
Hormone Therapy (Androgen Deprivation Therapy - ADT) $$$$
LHRH agonists/antagonists: Medications (injections or implants) $$$$
Anti-androgens: Medications (tablets) $$$$
Chemotherapy $$$$
Focal Therapy:
High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) $$$$
Cryoablation $$$$
Laser ablation $$$$
Psychologists/mental health care teams $$$$