Most prostate cancer in Australia these days is actually monitored and watched closely, rather than having aggressive treatment.
- Professor Nathan Lawrentschuk, Urologist
September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, dedicated to raising awareness of this disease that 1 in 6 Australian men will be diagnosed with by the time they are 85.
Prostate cancer happens when abnormal cells grow out of control in the prostate.
The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system. It sits under the bladder and surrounds the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body. The prostate produces some of the fluids that make semen, the fluid that helps sperm to travel.
Early diagnosis and treatment for prostate cancer has better outcomes for patients, so take our Risks quiz to find out if you or someone you care about is at risk of developing prostate cancer and when to get tested.
Prostate cancer risks quiz
If you are unsure if you are at risk of developing prostate cancer, consider these questions to find out if you should get tested.
1. Are you 50 years or older and male?
YES/NO
2. Do you have a father or brother who has or had a prostate cancer diagnosis before the age of 60?
YES/NO
3. Do you have a family history of prostate, breast or ovarian cancer, especially BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations?
YES/NO
If you answered yes to any of these questions, speak with your GP about prostate cancer testing.
The first step is a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, which can be performed by your GP or a urologist. A urologist is a surgeon who specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer and related conditions.