Claire Walker, from the Queen’s Centre
It’s a disease that sadly claims the lives of one person in the UK every 45 minutes, and is the most common cause of cancer in UK men*.
Now hospital staff in East Yorkshire are set to hold a special event for anyone living with or beyond prostate cancer.
Claire Walker, from the Macmillan Living With and Beyond Cancer Team, based at the Queen’s Centre (Castle Hill Hospital) in Cottingham, says:
“Prostate cancer mainly affects men over 50, and the risk is known to increase further if you are black or have a family history of prostate cancer.
“More than 500 people across Hull and East Yorkshire have been diagnosed with prostate cancer since April last year, and many of those will have received treatment or other support through the Queen’s Centre. The majority make a good recovery, but that journey from diagnosis through to end of treatment can be very difficult and lead to lots of questions, worry or uncertainty along the way.
“On Tuesday 28th March, we’ll be holding a drop-in session for anyone who’s been diagnosed with prostate cancer, who’s going through treatment now, or who’s finished their treatment but still needs a bit of advice or support.
The drop-in event will be held inside the Queen’s Centre at Castle Hill Hospital
“Our experience is that men can sometimes be hesitant or reluctant to seek help for health issues, so this is a really informal, open invite to call in and see us any time between 10am and 3pm that day.
“We’ll have experts on hand to answer clinical questions about treatment and recovery, and we’ll also be offering discreet advice on related issues such as financial support, side effects, erectile dysfunction, diet and exercise, urinary problems, and returning to work.
“We know that a cancer diagnosis doesn’t just affect the individual, it has a knock-on effect to the wider family too, so we’re also keen to speak to anyone whose loved one has received a prostate cancer diagnosis and who feels like they themselves need a bit of extra support.”
Sue Spence, Urology Clinical Nurse Specialist, and Stephen Kendall, Radiotherapy Advanced Practitioner for Urology, will be available at the Macmillan Information Centre, within the entrance to the Queen’s Centre, Castle Hill Hospital (Cottingham) along with the usual team between 10am and 3pm on Tuesday 28th March. If you would like to speak to either Sue or Stephen, there’s no need to make an appointment; simply call in between 10am and 3pm for an informal, confidential chat.
At the same time, cancer experts over in Northern Lincolnshire will also be holding similar events in the Macmillan Information Centres at:
- Grimsby – 10am-3pm, Diana Princess of Wales Hospital, Grimsby, between Amethyst Ward and Chemotherapy Day Unit. Urology expert, carers support and benefits advice will be available.
- Scunthorpe – 10am-1pm, Scunthorpe General Hospital (turn left off main entrance). Urology expert, carers support and representation from the local Prostate Cancer Support Group will be available.
People are, again, encouraged to call in with questions or to seek advice at their convenience, with no appointment necessary.
Anyone who cannot attend on the day is encouraged to speak to their own clinical nurse specialist or medical team to discuss any concerns. General information and advice on prostate cancer and life beyond can be found on the Prostate Cancer UK website – www.prostatecanceruk.org
Note: *According to Cancer Research UK, prostate cancer accounts for 27% of all cancers in males, and is one of the four most common cancers in the UK along with lung, bowel and breast. More details: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/incidence/common-cancers-compared