Plans to create a new centre to help in the battle against prostate cancer were unveiled today by Newcastle Lord Mayor John Tate.
The Newcastle Prostate Cancer Centre would support research into prostate cancer as well as provide a walk-in information centre and help line for men and their families who have to face the disease.
The idea to create a centre follows a very successful campaign by the Hunter based Prostate Survival Alliance, launched in June 2007, which has increased the number of blood tests for prostate cancer in the Hunter by 250 percent.
The Prostate Survival Alliance chairman, former Newcastle Police Chief and prostate cancer survivor, Ron Bender, said today that the centre was about local people saving local lives.
"We need a centre that will help newly diagnosed men to survive this disease," Mr Bender said.
Lord Mayor John Tate said the search was on for a venue which ideally would be located close to the Calvary Mater Hospital at Waratah.
"Let's create a centre that will assist important current research and attract future research into this disease to Newcastle," Cr Tate said.
The centre will provide premises for the central co-ordination of Australia and New Zealand's two largest cancer trials, 96.01 and RADAR, as well as other key prostate cancer research projects underway in Newcastle.
The Prostate Survival Alliance has developed a website, brochures, posters and television commercials. The materials have been funded by local benefactor Geoffrey Fry and produced with the support of the Greater Building Society.
The establishment of the centre is being supported by The University of Newcastle, The Calvary Mater Newcastle Hospital, The Prostate Survival Alliance and Hunter Medical Research Institute.
Those establishing the centre hope to have a venue open in the new year, with resources to help newly diagnosed men established later in the year.
2,700 Australian men die of Prostate cancer each year similar to the same death rate for breast cancer in women. In northern NSW, the death rate is up to 40 percent higher than in Sydney.
A 50 year old man has a one in eight chance of developing Prostate cancer at some stage in his remaining life. The risk is at least three times higher if there is a family history of the condition.
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