A cancer survivor and his doctor say life-changing prostate healthcare procedures should be accessible everywhere, after the donation of new medical equipment to a South Australian region.
Berri resident Allan Dand was diagnosed with prostate cancer at the age of 64 in 2008.
He didn't have any symptoms, but routine blood tests found his prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels were rising.
Mr Dand had to travel thousands of kilometres to Adelaide while managing his new diagnosis, a challenging process that patients today no longer have to face.
Urologist Dr James Aspinall performed a biopsy on Mr Dand, which eventually led to the successful removal of his prostate before the cancer spread.
"There should be no reason for people to have all these treatments done anywhere else, that's what a regional hospital is for," he said.
"It should be one whole process happening here and to have your family here.
"When you're playing with cancer you want support."
Life-changing treatment
Dr Aspinall, who has visited the Riverland since 1999, has worked with limited resources to deliver prostate care.
But he said Riverland patients were able to receive treatment in their own hometown these days.
"Anecdotally, my colleagues are relatively jealous of what we have here," Dr Aspinall said.
"We are leading in this area — ultimately most of the other country areas will have to expand to allow urology to occur in their regions as well.
Enormous fundraising efforts have made local treatment possible, with about $142,000 raised from the Berri, Barmera and Renmark Lions Clubs, the Berri Barmera Health Advisory Council and the Male Bag Foundation.
It has enabled the purchase of two life-changing pieces of equipment for the Riverland General Hospital, including the transperineal ultrasound and biopsy machine allowing Dr Aspinall to perform biopsies locally.
"Now with this machine I'm able to pass a needle through patients' skin instead of the rectum, therefore not increasing their risk of infection," Dr Aspinall said.
Meanwhile, the new Rezum equipment has allowed Dr Aspinall to inject steam into an enlarged and benign prostate, reducing its size and helping patients to pass urine, significantly improving their quality of life.
"What used to be a three to four-day hospital stay with significant risks of bleeding is now day surgery," he said.
"Patients are very grateful to have their surgery up in the Riverland and go straight home.
"Having public medicine done up here so quickly in comparison to what happens in the city is incredible."
Dr Aspinall is also passionate about training up the next generation of medical professionals, including Mildura student Laura Shultz.
“Working with James gives us a lot of exposure to what rural health actually looks like and the actual impact it has on real people,” she said.
“Being here has really solidified for me that rural medicine is probably the way to go for me.”
