00:01These new guidelines are a shift from focus on an individual test, a PSA test, to a broader
00:08program of early detection to ensure that we detect this disease as early as possible
00:15in as many Australian men as we can to improve outcomes across the country.
00:20So one of the biggest changes there being that PSA testing recommendations, what about
00:27the inclusion of MRIs being conducted before a biopsy?
00:32Sure.
00:33So these new guidelines for men 50 to 69, you should be offered a PSA test.
00:39And importantly, a general practitioner should initiate that conversation.
00:43What these new guidelines also do is recognise technological advances.
00:50So now as a part of that diagnostic pathway, before biopsy, before anything that is
00:57intrusive, if your PSA is elevated and it's elevated on a second test, then the next phase
01:04is a biopsy before you go to, the next phase is an MRI before you go to biopsy.
01:11And this is an important step.
01:13It's about minimising harm, improving outcomes.
01:16Is this the biggest shift when it comes to early detection?
01:21Is that what these guidelines are looking at doing?
01:24You know, you early detect, you've got a better outcome?
01:27Here, here.
01:27So prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia.
01:32You know, each year there's 27,000 men nearly diagnosed, sadly 4,000 die.
01:37However, in Australia, our survival rates, our five-year survival rates are among the best
01:41in the world, over 95% for all, and for early stage disease, much higher.
01:48But unfortunately, only about a third of prostate cancers diagnosed in Australia are stage one.
01:54These new guidelines, they're all about improving that figure, getting as many men diagnosed as
02:01early as possible so that we can make the best possible decisions about treatment to give
02:05us all the best possible outcomes.
02:07What are the challenges that you see, Professor Dunn, in implementing this new framework, if any?
02:15Well, of course, we need to start conversations.
02:18We need to make sure that men out there understand the guidelines, understand their risk, and start
02:24conversations.
02:26We need to continue working with our healthcare professionals, our general practitioners in
02:30primary care.
02:31We're there at the front line to ensure they're aware of the guidelines, they understand them,
02:36and we implement them uniformly across the country.
02:39We need to reduce any confusion, to make sure we're all doing exactly the same thing in each
02:46and every circumstance.
02:47And in that way, let's make sure we've got an integrated, fully implemented set of guidelines
02:53across the country to deliver the best possible outcomes.
02:56And just very briefly, Geoff, so we're almost out of time.
02:59How would you suggest a man start a conversation?
03:02What do these conversations sound like?
03:05Do you know?
03:06There's no single way.
03:08But it's critical.
03:10It is critical that men understand their risk and start conversations.
03:15Talk to your general practitioner.
03:18If you're a man with a family history, please talk to your general practitioner.
03:22If you're 50 years old, talk to your practitioner.
03:25If you have an interest in your prostate health, talk to your family members.
03:29Talk to your mates.
03:30Talk to your friends.
03:31Talk to your general practitioner.
03:32All of these things will make a difference.
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