In this episode of Simplify Cancer Podcast, we are talking to Damien Bolton, a clinical professor at the University of Melbourne and head of Austin Urology Unit here in Australia.

Damien is passionate about improving quality of life and the outcomes for patients with prostate cancer, and here is what we cover in our discussion today:

The big misconception about prostate cancerHow to recognise your own support needs when living with cancerRemoving emotion from decision makingWhy support is crucial through cancerand much, much more!

LinksFull episode transcript (PDF)

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Episode Transcript:Joe:                             Damien, I was really struck by the significance of this paper that you wrote called: Not all prostate cancer is the same.  Even the name alone: Not all prostate cancer is the same, Damien, what does it mean to you?

Damien:                    I think there’s a key message in there that’s apparent in the title.  Prostate cancer probably more than most cancers varies enormously in terms of its aggression.  The vast majority of prostate cancers of course are the types of tumours that we can just keep an eye on and observe and that won’t need aggressive treatment.  The small number that do in turn give that group a bit of a bad name.  Most men who get diagnosed with prostate cancer will have early curable treatment and treatment that doesn’t need intervention at all.  There is this small number that present with widely advanced disseminated disease that will be fatal to them.  Our message is to try and bring that group forward in the diagnosis to when the tumour is either easily treatable or can just be followed expectedly with the understanding that men will not die of the cancer if it’s identified at that point.

Joe:                             Exactly.  It seems like there’s a lot of misunderstanding from what you’re saying around this prostate cancer.  Damien, what is the most misunderstood belief around prostate cancer?

Damien:                    That misunderstanding is definitely true, and you are forever influenced by the people you know who’ve had prostate cancer.  Traditionally, we’ve seen old men die a painful death,