Former Deputy Prime Minister and Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce has revealed he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, just one day after the election.
The 58-year-old Member for New England received the diagnosis after a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test he took at the request of his GP.
“I had a PSA test, which all men should get,” he said, according to the ABC.
The test returned an “elevated” result, which prompted further testing including an MRI and a biopsy before the diagnosis.
Joyce has used his diagnosis to stress the importance of early intervention for prostate cancer.
“Prostate cancer, if you get it early, is very, very treatable; in fact, about 97 per cent successful,” he said.
“So I’m very blessed and lucky to discover this early.”
He also explained that he had no symptoms, and was lucky to have a “very diligent general practitioner”.
“She insisted on me getting a PSA and wasn’t I lucky that she did that, because otherwise we’d be having a different conversation in a couple of years’ time,” he said.
Joyce revealed he will undergo surgery on Monday, the first business day following his re-election.
“I’ll have the operation on Monday and I will then have a couple of days in hospital and will recuperate after that,” he said.
Joyce added that the election campaign was a “welcome distraction” during a trying personal time for him and his family, noting that he was keen to keep the diagnosis private to avoid any distractions.
“I knew it would turn into a bit of a circus,” he said of his diagnosis becoming public.
“I wanted the campaign to focus on the campaign and I didn’t think this issue needed to be a part of that.”
The newly re-elected MP is not worried about his health impacting his political duties.
“If I thought it was very serious, of course I’d resign, but my doctors or surgeons say, ‘You’re very lucky you’ve got it early,'” he said.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in Australian men, accounting for 28 percent of cancers diagnosed in men in 2024. According to the Cancer Council, one in six males will be diagnosed with prostate cancer before the age of 85.
However, many cases can be successfully treated, with a five-year survival rate of 98 percent in Australia.
Early prostate cancer does not usually cause symptoms. Advanced symptoms include:
- frequent urination
- pain while urinating
- blood in the urine or semen
- a weak stream
- pain in the back or pelvis
- weak legs or feet
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