April 22, 2016
Prostate cancer patients who live in the South Burnett will no longer have to travel to Brisbane for specialist care.
The region’s first specialist prostate cancer nurse, Jo Hiscock, will start servicing the region from May 9.
The nursing program has been jointly funded by the It’s A Bloke Thing Foundation (IABT) and ManUp! (through a donation from Hand Heart Pocket).
IABT Foundation chairman John Wagner, a prostate cancer survivor, said it made sense some of the funds raised through local support were put back into the community.
“We are very proud to have raised $4.5 million since we started five years ago and while we see research and education as paramount, a local nurse to help men in our region is just as important,” he said.
Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia ambassador Matthew Hayden, whose father Lawrie had prostate cancer, said it was welcome news a nurse had been funded to support men in the region.
“I am sure that this extremely well-qualified nurse will be a great relief to families that every day that have to deal with prostate cancer as there is nothing like the personal contact with someone to answer any queries,” he said.
“For our family to have the support of PCFA was certainly a relief.”
PCFA chief executive Dr Anthony Lowe said the nursing appointment would offer men in rural areas critical support and care.
The Toowoomba nurse will be based two days a week at Toowoomba Hospital, two days a week at St Andrew’s Toowoomba Hospital and one day in the catchment area which includes Kingaroy, Cunnamulla, Charleville, Quilpie, Moree, Tenterfield and Taroom.
The joint IABT/ManUp! contribution for the program is $150,000 per year for three years.
