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Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men regardless of race or ethnicity, but it is more common in African American men than in white men ( American Cancer Society 2008). It is less common in Hispanic, Asian, Pacific Islander, and Native American men. Several studies have reported diminished and poorer quality of life (i.e., disease-specific physical health and functional status) for African American men who have undergone standard treatments for prostate cancer when compared to white men. However, limited research is available on psychological adjustments to prostate cancer and even less is known about racial differences in psychological functioning after treatment. Problems most often reported by African American men after prostate cancer diagnosis or a radical prostatectomy are impotence, sexual dysfunction, erectile dysfunction, urinary frequency and psychological problems related to sadness, worry, nervousness, loneliness, loss, and diminished perceptions of “manhood”. Treatment for prostate cancer requires thoughtful decision making, which often is influenced by patient age at diagnosis, tumor stage, co-morbidities and treatment choice; because the type of treatment chosen may lead to adverse effects and modification in sexual behavior, especially after a radical prostatectomy.

Papua New Guinea (PNG) has a high burden of tuberculosis (TB), including drug-resistant TB (DR-TB). DR-TB has been identified in patients in Western Province, although there has been limited study outside the provincial capital of Daru. This study focuses on the Balimo region of Western Province, aiming to identify the proportion of DR-TB, and characterise Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) drug resistance-associated gene mutations. Sputum samples were investigated for MTB infection using published molecular methods. DNA from MTB-positive samples was amplified and sequenced, targeting the rpoB and katG genes to identify mutations associated with rifampicin and isoniazid resistance respectively. A total of 240 sputum samples were collected at Balimo District Hospital (BDH). Of these, 86 were classified as positive based on the results of the molecular assays. For samples where rpoB sequencing was successful, 10.0% (5/50, 95% CI 4.4⁻21.4%) were considered rifampicin-resistant through detection of drug resistance-associated mutations. We have identified high rates of presumptive DR-TB in the Balimo region of Western Province, PNG. These results emphasise the importance of further surveillance, and strengthening of diagnostic and treatment services at BDH and throughout Western Province, to facilitate detection and treatment of DR-TB, and limit transmission in this setting.