Cancer sufferer calls for Medicare to help

A 78-YEAR-old Topaz man who is suffering from prostate cancer has spoken out about how Medicare does not cover an optimal treatment for men with higher-risk prostate cancer.

A retired sales representative and grandfather, John, who asked for his surname to be withheld, initially dismissed his prostate cancer symptoms as just part of getting older, so being told he had five years to live after his diagnosis in 2005 came as a devastating shock.

After visiting his GP about trouble going to the bathroom when he was 62, John was referred to a urology clinic. His prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test returned an elevated result, and he was referred to a urologist.

John was subsequently diagnosed with prostate cancer and his urologist gave him an estimated five-year survival.

John originally managed his prostate cancer with hormone injections to bring his PSA levels down.

However, when his PSA readings started rising in 2015, he was referred to an oncologist at Townville hospital.

“It was my oncologist who thought I would be a good candidate for brachyther- apy in combination with radiation therapy. He suggested I opt for this treatment path, and I am very thankful he did,” John said.

Topaz man John has been able to get Medicare support for his prostate cancer treatment, but says men who suffer higher risk prostate cancer do not have the same support.

LDR-brachytherapy for prostate cancer is a minimally invasive, high precision, targeted treatment option which helps to minimise risk of damage to surrounding healthy cells. It involves the insertion of permanent radioactive ‘seeds’ directly into the prostate, which give off localised radiation over a number of months to kill cancer cells.

In Australia, while both LDR-brachytherapy and external beam radiation therapy are both approved for use in prostate cancer, the combination therapy is not available on Medicare for higher-risk prostate cancer.

“After I received LDR-brachytherapy, I had 39 rounds of radiation therapy. It was very quick - I was in and out of the hospital within an hour each day,” John said.

“I am one of the lucky ones. Not only had my cancer not spread outside of my prostate, but because it hadn’t, my treatment was covered by Medicare.

“I would not have been able to afford it if it was not covered.”

Throughout the rest of the world, LDRbrachytherapy is being used in combination with external beam radiation therapy to treat locally advanced (higher risk) cancer that has begun to spread outside the prostate.

“I was given five years to live with lower-risk prostate cancer,” John said.

“To think there are blokes out there living with higher-risk prostate cancer not able to access the same treatment I had covered by Medicare is mind-blowing.

“My advice is to listen to your body and your doctor. Since my treatment, my PSA readings are the lowest it has ever been, so I’m living proof it works.”.

To help back access to brachytherapy for Australian men with prostate cancer, visit backingbrachy.com.au

Free green waste days are back across shire

FREE domestic green waste days are coming up for Mareeba Shire residents.

Council offers free domestic green waste disposal on set days throughout the year so residents can dispose of clean, uncontaminated, domestic quantities of green waste only. Multiple loads will be accepted on these days.

The free green waste days for the Mareeba, Kuranda, Dimbulah and Julatten Transfer Stations is from 1-2 April, while Almaden, Irvinebank and Mt Molloy Transfer Stations will accept the waste from 1-4 April.

Mt Carbine residents can take their green waste to the local transfer station from 30 March to 2 April 2023, while Mutchilba will have its turn from 29 March to 1 April.

Chillagoe Transfer Station will accept green waste for free from 30 March to 1 April.

For transfer station operating times and locations, visit council’s website.