Testing for other cancers
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Answers to questions about testing for other cancers which can affect our mob, like prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer starts in the prostate gland, which is just below the bladder in men and people with male reproductive organs.
The risk of developing prostate cancer gets higher with age and if someone else in the family has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
More about prostate cancer
There is no national population screening program for prostate cancer.
Encourage your clients to talk to their doctors about their own individual risk. A doctor may recommend a Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test or rectal examination (using a gloved finger).
A PSA test is a type of blood test that measures the amount of PSA—a protein in the blood.
Abnormal PSA levels don’t mean the person has cancer. Other health issues can also cause abnormal PSA levels.
Encourage your clients to look out for changes in their body and see their doctor if they notice any:
- problems passing urine
- difficulty starting to pass urine
- increased frequency (having to pass urine more often)
- increased urgency (not being able to wait to go)
- pain or burning when passing urine
- blood in the urine or semen
- pain in the lower back and hips
- weak or numb legs or feet
- tiredness, shortness of breath, weight loss or dizziness.
- The Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia has resources for health professionals working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
- Cancer Australia website – Our Mob and Cancer has information and resources on prostate cancer.
- Cancer Council NSW has information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for community.
- The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) also has Prostate cancer screening information (PDF).
Related pages
Learn more about the healthy living changes your clients can make to stay well and reduce their risk of cancer.
Learn ways to encourage your Aboriginal clients aged 45-74 to do the free bowel screening test.
Build your knowledge in how breast screening can save lives by finding and treating breast cancer early.
Learn how a Cervical Screening Test every 5 years is the best way to protect your clients aged 25-74 from cervical cancer.
Lung screening finds cancer early before it causes symptoms. This means people can get treatment sooner and have a better chance of surviving.
Learn strategies to equip your clients in quitting tobacco smoking and vaping to prevent cancer and live healther.
Access a suite of resources to support your work promoting cancer screening and early detection with your mob.
Learn about what social and emotional wellbeing means for Aboriginal people. Access links to resources to help support your clients.
