A 15 year investigation by the New South Wales Cancer Council has found men living in regional areas are 32 per cent more likely to die of prostate cancer than those in metropolitan areas.
The study, published in the Medical Journal of Australia, also found 700 fewer deaths could have been avoided in that time if efforts were undertaken to decrease the disparity between the two geographic areas.
Associate Professor David Smith says there has been a significant investment over the last decade in trying to tackle prostate cancer rates in regional areas.
But he admits access to services remains an issue.
“Those services can start with the consultation with the GP to have a conversation about prostate cancer,” he said.
“To follow through with the urologist or radiation oncologist if something is raised, through to continuity of care for men with prostate cancer with their survivorship journey.”
Associate Professor Smith says improving support is proving challenging.
“Whether that be better use of telemedicine, more remote access to GPs or specialists independent of where they live, could rectify the situation somewhat,” he said.
“But we know that in the last 10 years quite a few resources have been thrown at this issue and unfortunately (we are) yet to see the results of those kicking in.”
Associate Professor Smith says radiotherapy is an effective treatment, but it requires daily doses over seven weeks, making access difficult for some.
“We tried to identify, if we’d eradicated any of the differences between death rates in urban men and rural men, what the bottom line would’ve been,” he said.
“And it appears as if 700 fewer deaths could’ve been averted over the 15 years of the study, if the survival rates were the same between urban men and rural men.
“It’s a lot of men we’re talking about.
“It’s a big issue.”