Prostate cancer: improving outcomes in Australia through rapid access diagnostics

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia with approximately 30,000 men diagnosed with the disease yearly. More men die of prostate cancer than women of breast cancer and, with earlier diagnosis, the potential of diagnosing localised prostate cancer - which is ultimately curable - is higher. The diagnosis of prostate cancer not only relies on history, examination findings, biochemical tests and radiological imaging, it also involves an invasive and potentially painful procedure - transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)- guided needle biopsy of the prostate. The main aim of this thesis is to test if a more tolerable TRUS-guided prostate biopsy can be achieved with the use of an anti-inflammatory.
A secondary aim of the study is to consider the differences in diagnosis, treatment and outcomes of prostate cancer for men residing in rural areas of West Australian (WA) compared with men residing in the Perth metropolitan area. Another aim is to conduct a feasibility study into whether the newly introduced 'one stop' prostate clinic (OSPC) would provide rapid and efficient assessment for Australian men, particularly rural patients.