Prostate Scanner

In Victoria in 2023 the number of males diagnosed with prostate cancer and related issues totalled nearly 25,000 per annum. The incidence of diagnosis is 11% of the male population and is nearly 8% in men aged over 68 – approximately 18,000 per annum.

In the Mornington Peninsula Shire alone, in 2023, some 1,600 men over the age of 65 are diagnosed with prostate issues annually; that is, 30 per week. Peninsula Health Frankston alone recorded over 600 cases of prostate cancer per annum. As the population ages, the incidence increases. Treatment is a further significant demand on resources and costs.

Head of Urology at Peninsula Health, Dr Paul Gilmore, spoke at a community dinner held by The Lions Club of Flinders District (Flinders Lions) in 2017 about the lack of clinical equipment available on the Peninsula to aid in the screening and diagnosis of Prostate Cancer and related issues. Patients had to travel to Melbourne for scanning.

Flinders Lions helped purchase a prostate ultrasound/probe machine back then. However, the life span is generally five years for this equipment, and it has been worked very hard due to the high instance of Prostate Cancer on the Peninsula. The probes have now worn out on the current ultrasound machine, and once the old machine stops working, there is no option to get it working again as the original equipment supplier does not provide new probes. The hospital is effectively obliged to purchase a whole new ultrasound machine (and the probes along with it). The existing brand is no longer a viable option as the company no longer provides a service for the replacement of the probes, so the hospital has chosen another provider. 

Early detection saves lives, and the new version of the equipment, the Innologic prostate cancer ultrasound probe (pictured below), has much better definition, quality and a secure ongoing service contract. Importantly, it will greatly assist in the early detection of prostate cancer and will future proof the diagnosis of men living on the Mornington Peninsula for the next ten years. 

Peninsula Health has commenced a Public Fundraising initiative to purchase some new equipment and a new, state of the art, machine which would save patients having to travel to Melbourne for assessment. The new machine costs $120,000 and the public fundraiser has raised $26,000 so far. If a total of $80,000 is raised, the balance would come from the Peninsula Health’s annual budget. 

Flinders Lions has resolved to assist with fundraising for this essential equipment through promotion of its annual Charity Golf Day and Flinders Motoring Heritage event. Donations are now available to be made via the following link or by contacting the treasurer of The Flinders District Lions Inc on treasurer@flindersdistrictlions.com.au.

Donations may be received in Strict Confidence, and Peninsula Health shall issue a Tax Receipt upon request.