Mike Ashford, Mike Broxton and David Casley helped organise a display of p.c. leaflets and we spent a very enjoyable day promoting awareness of p.c. Our stand was with the other health related organisations and Mike Ashford took advantage of the adjacent complementary therapeutic massage service. No photos of that I’m afraid but Mike did attract the attention of the Lord Mayor councillor Geoff Gollop who insisted on having his photograph taken with Mike.
PROPOSED MEMBERSHIP DATABASE
It has been proposed that a membership database be developed to further enhance the work of Prospect and improve the service to our members. As you can imagine since the group was formed various committee members have obtained membership details on an ad hoc basis, and there is now a need to rationalise this information. So, in order to remedy this, the idea of an ‘Access’ based database containing complete and up to date member details has been raised. Although, at the time of writing this, no final decision has been made, development has started, and committee member Mike Broxton, is busy putting this database together.
It is envisaged that the database will hold names, addresses, contact details, subscriptions, and donations made, general notes on contacts, together with a section dedicated to our helpline activities. There will be various utilities developed to speed up reporting, and information handling, which will greatly reduce the time taken to produce these, which at present, are done on hard copy paperwork based systems. No personal medical information will be kept on this database, other than basic information, of a more general nature, which we will use to analyse our service in order to improve it. It will be kept on a secured, stand alone computer and administered solely by one dedicated person. Naturally Mike Broxton will have original master copies for facilitating further development.
If the decision is to go ahead, then a questionnaire could be developed, and sent out to members, in order to obtain the most up to date information for checking, and insertion into the database. Naturally any information obtained would be treated in strict confidence. Should any member not wish to give any particular piece of information, then that is their right, and we would respect that, but we do hope that members will see the advantages of centralising correct and up to date details. Prospect is punching well above its weight locally, and is becoming accepted by professionals, and professional bodies alike, as a credible and important part of the fight we’re all involved in to promote the early diagnosis of prostate cancer. By dint of a lot of hard work by many members, we are now on various committees, giving views from a patient’s perspective, on the services currently on offer, and how they should be improved. The new database will greatly improve our information gathering and enable us to present factual and down to earth information to help us argue our corner in the ongoing prostate cancer services debate.
If you have any comments, or suggestions to make, Please contact Mike Broxton at
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, or telephone him on 0117 956 4331, or any of your usual contacts on the committee.
NEW PROSTATE CANCER CHARITY BOOKLET: LIVING WITH AND AFTER PROSTATE CANCER
This booklet is for men living with prostate cancer before, during and after treatment. It is also for men who may be having their prostate cancer monitored, rather than having treatment. It contains information about the physical and emotional effects of living with prostate cancer and treatment, ways to manage them, including tips for self-management. The booklet also provides information about practical issues such as work and money.
The booklet Living with and after prostate cancer: A guide to physical, emotional and practical issues is now available to order free of charge and download from the Prostate Cancer Charity website. I also have some spare copies so just get in touch or pick up a copy from me at our next meeting.
PROSPECT TEAMS UP WITH BRISTOL UNIVERSITY AND UWE
Prospect has been invited to assist with the initial stages of two potential studies by these universities - researching the support available to help men live with prostate cancer and researching prostate cancer education programmes for health professionals. Both of these projects could be of immense value and it is very pleasing that our group is being involved at the outset. If any member wishes to get involved with this work please contact Malcolm Gamlin telephone 01275 859419.
RUN FOR THE FUTURE
Again Prospect had a stand at this annual 5km fun run held on the Downs to raise funds for the Bristol Urological Institute Prostate Cancer Appeal.The weather unfortunately was not good and heavy rain and wind dampened the enthusiasm of the spectators. However about 600 runners took part and I am sure lots of money was raised for this appeal.As it was Malcolm Gamlin, Mike Andrews, Richard Firth, Mike Broxton and David Casley thoroughly enjoyed meeting and sheltering the public and runners who took an interest in our stand. It was also good to meet up with our new member Richard Ormerod who was taking part in the run with his family.
REAL MEN CHECK
During October and November 2011 Avon Somerset & Wiltshire Cancer Services (ASWCS) are running a media campaign with Heart and Gold FM called "Real Men Check". This is a project led by the ASWCS to encourage men to get to their GP early. It will consist of short adverts highlighting to men the importance of going to see their GP if they have certain symptoms.
MEN DON’T KNOW ABOUT PROSTATE TEST
Two thirds of men at a raised risk of p.c. do not know about the PSA test says the Prostate Cancer charity. The charity is worried that men are effectively being denied access to the test. Under NHS guidelines men over 50 have the right to ask for the test if they have had a discussion with their doctor about its benefits and drawbacks.
But a survey by the charity has found that a tenth of GPs do not support this right while a fifth never talk about the test with at risk groups.
John Neale, chief executive of the Prostate Cancer charity said: The lack of knowledge about the PSA test is a completely unacceptable inequality in our society and can no longer be tolerated. GPs must begin to encourage men much more proactively in discussion about p.c. and the role of the PSA test. They must never stand in the way of a man’s right to make an informed choice about having the test. (Edited from The Daily Telegraph 1 March 2011)
HORMONE THERAPY COULD HALVE PROSTATE CANCER DEATH RATE
Men with p.c. could halve their risk of dying if they are given hormone therapy as well as radiotherapy, according to research. The study found that the treatment lowers levels of male hormones that can boost the growth of tumours.
Neoadjuvant Androgen Deprivation Therapy (NADT) six months before and after radiotherapy avoids potential side-effects including impotence and heart attack that can be caused by prolonged use.
In an article published in The Lancet, Dr Chris Parker of the Royal Marsden hospital said: “this confirms that NADT reduces mortality significantly after radiotherapy for high-risk p.c. It also helps to resolve the uncertainty regarding NADT duration, and suggests strongly that men receiving NADT should have at least 6 months treatment.”Researchers looked at men with locally advanced p.c., some of whom were only treated with radiation and others who also received hormone therapy.
10 years on they found there was an 11% death rate among those who had 6 months NADT treatment with radiotherapy compared to 22% who just had radiation. (The Daily Telegraph 25 March 2011)
OBESE MEN MORE LIKELY TO SEE PROSTATE CANCER SPREAD
Being overweight can limit the chance of surviving p.c. a study suggests. Researchers at Duke University Medial Centre in Durham, North Carolina in the US, discovered that obese men are 3 times more likely to see the cancer spread beyond the prostate than those of a healthy weight. (The Daily Telegraph 16 May 2011)
PATHOLOGY REVIEW
Problems with the lay committee contributing to this review have caused delays in proceedings. I hope to report with more information in the next newsletter.
YEO VALLEY LIONSMENS HEALTH EVENING
The Yeo Valley Lions have arranged for a mens health event to be held on Monday 17th October at 7.30pm at Yatton Bowling Club, Well Lane, Yatton.
Local GPs will talk about mens health generally and Raj Persad will give a talk on prostate cancer. Raj's talks are not to be missed! Prospect will be running an awareness stand with lots of relevant leaflets and booklets. Members of Prospect are warmly invited to attend this event.
UROLOGY RECONFIGURATION
If you are currently receiving treatment either at your GP’s surgery or with a hospital consultant this will affect you.
Come to a public event to find out how the NHS is planning to reconfigure hospital urology services for the population of Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire and Bath and North East Somerset. The event is on Wednesday 5th October 2011 at 10.00am – 12pm at The Vassall Centre,Gill Avenue, Fishponds, Bristol, BS16 2QQ.
Prospect members Richard Firth and David Casley are on the reconfiguration project board and will be attending the meeting.
NEXT PROSPECT MEETING
As a result of comments from members the next Prospect meeting at BAWA on 18th October will be an open forum. Three members have volunteered to talk about their treatment and take questions from the floor or if preferred on a one to one basis whilst we enjoy the delicious BAWA buffet. We expect that the talks and questions will then lead to an open discussion between members. We have a number of new members and hope that this will provide them with an opportunity to learn from others' experiences.
David Casley - Prospect publicity tel: 07860 369064