17 September 2026
Blue Mountains prostate cancer advocate David Wilkinson is calling on the community to stand with Australian men and families as part of Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia’s Big Aussie Day of Action on Thursday, 15 October.
The President of the Blue Mountains Prostate Cancer Support Group says the specialist nursing service available to men today provides vital guidance that was missing when he was diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer in 2011.
“When I was diagnosed, my urologist recommended an open radical prostatectomy and encouraged me to seek a second opinion from a radiation oncologist,” Mr Wilkinson says.
“Based on the advice of those two specialists, I chose surgery. That was it. There was no Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurse available to help me understand the diagnosis, consider my options or work through the questions that followed.”
Today, men diagnosed with prostate cancer can receive free, expert guidance from PCFA’s Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurses in hospitals and through PCFA’s national Telenursing Service.
“This gives newly diagnosed men and their families the opportunity to make much more informed decisions,” Mr Wilkinson says.
“For men in remote and regional communities who may live hundreds of kilometres from specialist care, being able to receive expert advice through a free phone call can be invaluable.”
Mr Wilkinson says he regularly sees the difference specialist nursing care makes through the Blue Mountains Prostate Cancer Support Group.
“When a man and his partner, family member or carer attend our group for the first time, they invariably speak about the support and advice they have received from our local Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurse, Jose,” he says.
“Jose also gives his time to attend our support group meetings, where his specialist knowledge and advice are invaluable.”
Mr Wilkinson is now attending three-monthly oncology appointments and continues to benefit personally from Jose’s care.
“When his work commitments allow, Jose is there to greet me before my appointment and available afterwards to answer any questions I may have,” he says.
“He provides that same compassionate, specialised support to every patient. It is difficult to see how a generalist cancer nurse could provide the same depth of prostate cancer knowledge and continuity of care.”
Prostate cancer is Australia’s most commonly diagnosed cancer, with around 29,000 men expected to be diagnosed each year.
“This is expertise we cannot afford to lose,” Mr Wilkinson says.
“I implore my fellow support group leaders, prostate cancer survivors, families and community members to get behind PCFA’s Day of Action and do everything we can to protect this valuable service.
“Specialist prostate cancer nurses give men knowledge, reassurance and a trusted point of contact at one of the most difficult times in their lives. We must make sure that support remains available.”
PCFA’s Big Aussie Day of Action will bring communities together across Australia to remember the men lost to prostate cancer and call on the Australian Government to protect specialist prostate cancer nursing care.
Supporters can share their stories, contact local MPs and community leaders, and register to take part at www.pcfa.org.au/get-involved/the-big-aussie-day-of-action/.
