UNMET and largely unspoken needs of men with prostate cancer are being put on the table – it is time to talk sex.
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Ballarat has the only health service in Australia with a specialist prostate care nurse to lead a clinic and support sessions in sexual health.
Grampians prostate care nurse Gay Corbett said sex was a topic on which patients were constantly keen for help but often unsure how to find the very much patient-centred advice.
But now they have a supportive forum in the SWAT clinic (sexual wellness after treatment) and group sessions on what to do when cancer joins you in bed.
“There are some men who have not spoken to anyone about this for 10 years until now,” Ms Corbett said.
“It’s had really positive outcomes to help improve communication between couples and improving self-esteem.
“When we run the group sessions, partners come along and the sessions can really reinforce what a partner may have been saying, like ‘I’m ok with cuddles a lot’. Patients know they’re not alone. They’re are with other likeminded people.”
Ballarat Health Services’ sexual support programs for men with prostate cancer have received a welcome boost to continue work via this year’s annual Biggest Ever Blokes Lunch in Ballarat.
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The event, focusing on men’s health, has donated $7,500 to the program with a further $34,000 to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, which in turn will inject $2,000 of this back into Ballarat prostate cancer support groups.
This will allow BHS to keep running the sessions for free.
Ms Corbett said general practitioners from across the region were starting to refer patients and an upcoming information session in Horsham was already booked out.
But more awareness was important to reach men to offer support on the intimate issue.
The SWAT clinic can help with advice on managing sexuality, erectile dysfunction, a lack of libido and sense of self-esteem after treatment.
BHS Base Hospital was the first Australian public hospital to operate the less-invasive transperineal grid prostate biopsy machine.
Male Bag prostate awareness champions David Parkin and Rob Glover also draw on prostate work being done in Ballarat to help men on their journeys across Australia.
Christmas advice for men
Ballarat Health Services acute operations executive director Ben Kelly said the best gift men could give their loved ones this Christmas was a health check on themselves:
Check heart, diabetes, prostate, mental health, bowel – be up to date on everything. Make sure you see your GP (general practitioner)..It’s about having the right treatment and care, if needed, from a holistic health perspective