Hunter men are being encouraged to have their prostate checked after a study from Cancer Council NSW reveled rural men have a higher risk of dying from prostate cancer than their major city counter parts.
The study, published in the Medical Journal of Australia, showed rural while overall survival rates had improved, rural men were 32% more likely to die from prostate cancer then men in major cities.
"There is a couple of reasons [for the disparity] we think that early detection really is a big contributor to these different rates, but also the distance to treatment is quite a barrier," said Shayne Connell, Regional Manager, Cancer Council NSW.
Survival rates increased from 57 to 84 percent but the inequity between rural and city patients was still prominent.
"Across the board we've had about 700 deaths in rural men over a 15 year period," Mr Connell said.
All men, particularly those with a family history of cancer, are encouraged to visit their doctor or call the Cancer Council help line on 13 11 20
