Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurses (PCSN) provide coordinated support throughout the entire prostate cancer journey; taking into account physical, emotional, psychological and social needs of men and their families.

Thanks to funds raised in 2018, Dry July will be funding three Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurses; one in NSW, one in Hobart and one in Launceston.

From the moment that a man is diagnosed, their PCSN becomes the main point of contact for any issues or concern the men and their families may have, including management of symptoms and treatment side effects – there is no end-point to this care.

"At a time in my life when I needed someone to guide and support me, Chris was there. I can't thank him enough."

- Steve, a member of the Dog Squad in the Police Force and prostate cancer survivor 

Every man like Steve needs a Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurse like Chris. 

Sadly, 2 in 3 men diagnosed with prostate cancer are missing out on this life-changing expert nursing support. 

The funds you raise this Dry July will support more men like Steve during the most frightening time of their lives. 

As a frontline police officer for 28 years, Steve Lindsey bravely puts his life on the line on a daily basis, but he openly admits the most frightening moment of his life happened in the doctor’s office, being told … “You have prostate cancer”. 

After receiving his diagnosis Steve felt completely overwhelmed. 

“My world stopped… it was just so frightening to be diagnosed with prostate cancer. I was lying awake at night, wondering what on earth is going to happen. I was worried I wouldn’t pull through, worried for my family, that I wouldn’t see my kids grow up. Or worse, that my kids would lose me just like I lost my dad when I was 24.” 

For Steve, only one person could calm his fear. Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurse, Chris McNamara. With his surgery date looming, Steve fought his fear and decided “I’m going to call this guy.” 

“It was the best phone call I ever made. I spoke to Chris for over an hour and he immediately put all my fears to rest. He took me through every step.” 

“Chris said he was going to meet me at the hospital. He said he’d be there when I woke up – and he was. At a time in my life when I needed someone to guide and support me, Chris was there. I can’t thank him enough.” 

Steve is back on full duty with his new police dog Leo. There are two days that he will never forget on his cancer journey - the day he received his prostate cancer diagnosis and the day he met his Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurse Chris.

The Dry July Foundation was pleased to award Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA) a grant in 2017 towards the Prostate Cancer Specialist Nursing (PCSN) program.

Prostate cancer is too frightening to face alone. Our expert nurses provide coordinated support throughout the entire prostate cancer journey; taking into account physical, emotional, psychological and social needs of men and their families. 

Patients often tell PCFA that they need "an opportunity to talk through [their] diagnosis beyond what is available in a standard 15-minute consult with a urologist". Specialist nurses can help patients and their families to understand their diagnosis, what to expect and connect them with services to address the challenges that they may encounter along the way. 

PCFA offers this extraordinary expert service free of charge, through support from a range of partners.