This presentation delivered by men’s health physiotherapist, Thomas Harris and men’s health specialist pharmacist, Peter Fairgray will detail the vital roles of each profession in supporting men during a prostate cancer treatment pathway.
Prostate cancer has recently become the most diagnosed cancer in Australia with around 25,000 Australian men being diagnosed each year. Around 4000 men will also die from prostate cancer yearly. This difference between diagnoses and death leaves a net burden of 21,000 new men each year facing a raft of challenges from dealing with the diagnosis, treatment options, treatment side effects and delayed treatment side effects. We are also seeing an increased number of men being diagnosed in their late 30’s and 40’s, increasing the risk of disease burden.
Both presenters will provide clinical guidelines, research backed treatment options as well as providing vital insights into the emotional and psychological impact of being diagnosed, treated for and recovering from prostate cancer. With over 95% of men undergoing a radical prostatectomy experiencing some degree of incontinence and erectile dysfunction, this affects a significant number of men yearly.
The presentation will cover pelvic floor training for men, including real time ultrasound imagery showing the pelvic floor muscles in action, the role of strength and aerobic training as well as a wide range of treatment options for men with erectile dysfunction including medication, vacuum erection devices and intracavernosal injections.
This presentation will be of benefit to medical professionals, psychologists and counselors as well as the general public. The aim for this presentation is to explain the conservative management options for treatment side effects such as incontinence, erectile dysfunction, fatigue and emotional distress. A number of deidentified patient stories and quotes will also be included to highlight the importance of this work and meeting each man where they are at on their prostate cancer journey.