A friendly and supportive network that aims to:
- Support men who suspect they may have prostate cancer or who have been diagnosed and feel they need more information or support to decide on the best way forward.
- Provide a local informal meeting place for prostate cancer patients, where personal experiences of treatments can be exchanged. Our usual meetings are at 7pm at the BAWA, Filton – directions/map here
- Keep patients in touch with medical professionals and up-to-date knowledge of medical developments and local arrangements for treatment.
- Champion the cause of prostate cancer patients and encourage all men over 50 to receive an annual PSA check.
- Raise awareness of prostate cancer.
We have found that knowledge is of great benefit to the patient. It enables him to play an active part in the decision-making process, for example in selecting the best treatment.
We offer a friendly welcome – join us
Are you just diagnosed, or do you suspect that you may have prostate cancer? Then for friendly peer support and an introduction to Prospect email prospect.bristol@gmail.com or call the Tackle helpline, which will put you in touch with us: 0800 035 5302. You can join us for a small subscription by filling in the PDF membership form on the Contact/Join us page.
This site has been compiled by prostate cancer survivors. We do not claim to have specialist knowledge other than that gained by prostate cancer patients during their treatment.
Protected from despair…
George Monbiot writes in the Guardian that the principles that define a good life protect him from despair, despite a diagnosis of prostate cancer and the ‘grisly’ operation he faces (Mar ’18). See here
We give illustrated talks
Our Mike Broxton gives prostate cancer awareness talks to interested groups, including those with learning disabilities. To arrange a talk, contact prospect.bristol@gmail.com or 0800 035 5302.
Phone volunteers needed
Prostate Cancer UK needs more telephone support volunteers. This service is provided by trained volunteers who support men affected by prostate cancer and their loved ones, by sharing their experiences of treatments. Apply here.
Having the conversation…
“Manversation” is a campaign to encourage men to speak about prostate cancer, particularly the advanced prostate form. Tackle have collaborated with Orchid, the male cancer charity, and put their name to a video and supporting material on the Manversation website.
Myths debunked and spotting fake cancer news
Ten cancer myths debunked. See here. And also here are six tips to spot cancer fake news
New information for at-risk black men
One in four black men will get prostate cancer – double the overall risk faced by all UK men. Are you are risk? See here
Energise wins award
The exercise-based cancer rehab programme Energise won the Together We Achieve award for 2016. The award, announced at the inaugural Health & Care Awards in March ’17, recognises teams working together to deliver improved patient care and public health. See a video about their work here. The classes are designed for people who have been affected by cancer and whose 
quality of life can be maintained or improved by taking part in regular, supervised exercise with cancer specialist instructors. Energise is a partnership between Macmillan, North Bristol NHS Trust, Sports Leisure Management Ltd and Bristol City Council. In a Bristol Post article on the Easton scheme participants tell how it helped them improve mood, vitality and well-being, and to overcome cancer-related fatigue. For more information on Energise see our Helpful links page.
Regional co-ordinator needed
Tackle need a Regional Co-ordinator for Western Counties to replace Sandy Tyndale-Biscoe of Cornwall. The holder acts as a focal point for communications on region-specific topics between the chairman, Roger Wotton, and member groups in the area. See here. In addition, he or she will participate in occasional meetings or teleconferences. If any Prospect member would like to volunteer for this rewarding role, they can email roger.wotton@tackleprostate.org All expenses are reimbursed.
New research strategy launched
Prostate Cancer UK has launched an ambitious 10-year strategy setting out how it will invest in the most innovative research to create a step change in our knowledge of prostate cancer. See here. And we have more research news here.
Swedish test shows promise
Swedish researchers found a test which is a potentially a game-changing step forward for prostate cancer risk assessment. It involved genetic and protein biomarkers (the S3M) and was much better than PSA alone at detecting potentially dangerous prostate cancers. The Swedish results give compelling evidence the S3M risk assessment model can dramatically cut the number of unnecessary biopsies, without compromising patients’ safety. But Prostate Cancer UK says it’s going to be important to validate this study in a more diverse population before it can accept that it will work elsewhere. It is funding more research to develop a new UK risk assessment tool. These plans are still going full steam ahead, and PCa UK expects to have more to say about this later. See here.
Tiger or pussycat? That’s the problem
It’s a big problem to tell the difference between slow-growing cancers and aggressive ones. See here. But new research from one of Prostate Cancer UK’s Centres of Excellence could help identify which is which (Oct ’17). See here.
Cancer ‘as unique as fingerprints’
Each person’s cancer is as unique as their fingerprints, said Professor Gillies McKenna, Director of the CRUK/MCR Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology. This created an opportunity for more precise treatment.