Ministerial Statement

PROSTATE CANCER

The Hon. J.D. HILL (Kaurna—Minister for Health, Minister for the Southern Suburbs, Minister Assisting the Premier in the Arts) (14:02): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.D. HILL: I rise to inform the house of some positive news from the Department of Health and the Cancer Council in regard to prostate cancer in South Australia. Of course, today prostate cancer is very much in the news, with the report that former AFL footballer Sam Newman is fighting that disease. I am sure all my colleagues wish him the very best for a good recovery from this illness.

Today the Cancer Council and the Department of Health released a new study which shows a dramatic decline in the number of deaths from prostate cancer in South Australia. The study found the death rate from this form of cancer had dropped by 22 per cent over the past decade. This appears to be a remarkable result, and it is likely to be linked to the very good treatments offered to men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer and, of course, to the will of these men and their families to overcome the cancer.

More than 1,400 South Australian men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year and, unfortunately, that figure is growing. Prostate cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in SA men after lung cancer and it is responsible for about 240 deaths each year. But this new study indicates that we are doing well in South Australia in fighting this insidious disease and there is great hope for those diagnosed with the cancer. The study shows that up to 88 per cent of men diagnosed have survived more than five years after diagnosis.

Today the first stage of this report was released and there will be a second phase of the study released later this year which looks at the reasons for the large decline in deaths. I thank both the Cancer Council of South Australia for its work on this study and BankSA, which contributed $8,500 to the research.

I also inform the house about the state government's moves towards developing a strategy for men's health in South Australia. The aim of this strategy is to provide a framework for us to address the health and wellbeing of South Australian men in a more comprehensive manner. This strategy will guide us in how men can better access primary health care services to keep them healthy and to improve their life expectancy and quality of life. The draft strategy will be available on the Department of Health's website which can be found at www.health.sa.gov.au. The strategy has already been out for consultation during February, and we appreciate the comments we have received so far, including those from the member for Fisher. This consultation will now be extended until the end of March.