Five Steps To Saving Lives And Improving Men's Experience Of Prostate Cancer By 2020

Main Category: Prostate / Prostate Cancer
Also Included In: Urology / Nephrology;  Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 02 Dec 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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The Prostate Cancer Charity is launching a new strategy 'Transforming The Future For Prostate Cancer' - which it believes could reduce mortality rates by 30 per cent.

The strategy, which will be unveiled at a special event next Monday (1 December), outlines ambitious goals and targets for vital changes the Charity believes are necessary to improve men's experience of prostate cancer by 2020. Underpinned by the Charity's own strategy for 2008-14, it also sets out a challenging programme of actions for 2008-14 to reach these goals.

The strategy outlines five key goals, which the Charity believes will bring about urgent change for people affected by prostate cancer by 2020.

The first of these - by 2020 significantly more men will survive prostate cancer - aims to reduce the death rate from prostate cancer by 30 per cent, from 25 per 100,000 to 18 per 100,000. This would save the lives of around 3,000 men every year.

Progress on reducing the mortality rate is firmly linked to the research agenda. Critically important is the need to develop a new generation test capable of distinguishing between aggressive and slow-growing forms of prostate cancer. This could form the basis for a national screening programme and would enable treatment to be focussed on those men for whom prostate cancer presents a serious risk to health. The Charity will undertake a number of actions to progress this, including lobbying for increased research into a new diagnostic test and prostate cancer prevention, as well as investing more in its own research programme.

The reduction in the death rate will also be closely connected to another key goal - by 2020, inequalities in access to high quality prostate cancer services will be reduced. National surveys have shown that, the overall NHS experience of men affected by prostate cancer is worse than for patients with other common cancers.

'Transforming The Future For Prostate Cancer' sets out the target that all men affected by the disease will have access to the same range of high standard diagnostic, and treatment services - including the management of side effects - and information and support. The Charity, among other steps, will work towards defining a gold standard for prostate cancer services and care and lobby for this standard to be the norm for all prostate cancer patients across the NHS.

The Charity has identified the vital importance of improving access to information. In 2005, 43 per cent of men in a major survey told The Prostate Cancer Charity they were not given written information about the disease or treatment options when they were diagnosed.

Two further goals - by 2020, society will understand the key facts about prostate cancer and act on this knowledge and by 2020, African Caribbean men and women will know more about prostate cancer and act on that knowledge - address the importance of raising awareness of prostate cancer, particularly in the African Caribbean community. Men in this group are three times more likely to develop prostate cancer than white men.

Max Clifford will be among speakers at the launch of the strategy. The high profile Public Relations consultant, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer himself in 2007, will address invited guests at a special event to unveil, 'Transforming The Future For Prostate Cancer', at the Science Museum, London, on Monday (1 December). He will speak of his personal experience of the disease, as well as his support for a broad ranging and ambitious strategy to tackle prostate cancer.

"I am delighted to be supporting The Prostate Cancer Charity. My own battle with prostate cancer, which is the most common cancer in men, showed me that much needs to be done to raise awareness of the prevalence and impact of the disease and its potential signs and symptoms, so that men can seek help early. It is also critical that more is invested in research, that credible information is made available for the 35,000 men diagnosed with prostate cancer every year and that their experience of treatment improves," Clifford said.

John Neate, Chief Executive at The Prostate Cancer Charity, said: "We want to mobilise a movement for change in the UK in tackling prostate cancer. We can only do this when everyone with an interest in prostate cancer is prepared to take some form of action. This launch event is a vital opportunity to bring together a wide range of representatives of the NHS, health care professionals, the voluntary sector, the research community, policy makers and people affected by prostate cancer. We need the entire prostate cancer community working together to achieve these goals.

"I am thrilled that Max Clifford has agreed to support this key event. By sharing his experiences - and pledging support for our strategy - Max is sending a clear message to other men to be aware of the disease. He is joining a groundswell of willingness across the UK to stand up and do something about the inequalities surrounding prostate cancer, including calling for higher investment in research and improved access to support and information."

Notes

The goals outlined in 'Transforming The Future For Prostate Cancer' are:

1. By 2020, significantly more men will survive prostate cancer
2. By 2020, society will understand the key facts about prostate cancer and will act on that knowledge
3. By 2020, African Caribbean men and women will know more about prostate cancer and will act on that knowledge
4. By 2020, inequalities in access to high quality prostate cancer services will be reduced
5. By 2020, people affected by prostate cancer will have their information and support needs addressed effectively

Other speakers at the event, which aims to bring together everyone with a role to play in improving the future for people affected by prostate cancer, include Harpal Kumar and Ciaràn Devane, Chief Executives of Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support respectively, as well as Mike Richards CBE, National Clinical Director For Cancer.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in men in the UK. Every year in the UK 35,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer. One man dies every hour of prostate cancer in the UK.

African Caribbean men are three times more likely to develop prostate cancer than white men.

The Prostate Cancer Charity is striving for a world where lives are no longer limited by prostate cancer. The Charity is fighting prostate cancer on every front - through research, support, information and campaigning.

If you have any queries about prostate cancer, call The Prostate Cancer Charity's confidential Helpline 0800 074 8383 which is staffed by specialist nurses and open from 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday and Wednesdays from 7 - 9pm or visit http://www.prostate-cancer.org.uk

The Prostate Cancer Charity