|
|
|
Prostate Research
Campaign
UK
Extends Funding Priority
LONDON
, March 19/PRNewswire/ --
Prostate
Cancer Awareness Week, 21-27 March 2005, is about more than just
highlighting public messages on the
most common male cancer in the
UK
.
Healthcare professionals
require continuing information on new developments
to fight the escalating magnitude of
the condition. Prostate Research
Campaign
UK
, the only
UK
charity that makes grants into research across all
forms of prostate disease has just
awarded nearly GBP400,000; taking its
total in the last five years to
GBP1.6million. In the past, Prostate Research
Campaign
UK
has focussed on donations to medical researchers. The 2005
donation includes funding for the
education of healthcare professionals.
"In addition to supporting
further research into the causes of, and new
treatments for, prostate disease,
this year we have taken an active decision
to develop independent projects,
such as best-practice workshops,
particularly for healthcare
professionals working in the primary care
sector", said Professor Roger
Kirby, Chairman of the charity.
Prostate Research Campaign
UK
is committed to increasing its target for
research grants and the extent to
which it becomes a recognised information
source on all forms of prostate
disease for both medical professionals and
the public.
The charity produces a wide range of free publications on all aspects of
prostate health and this includes a
video/DVD: Treatment Options in Early
Prostate Cancer - a short film for
men who may just have been diagnosed with
prostate cancer. It is also intended
for those family members or friends who
may become involved in the
decision-making process concerning treatment.
More information the Prostate Research Campaign
UK
can be found at:
www.prostate-research.org.uk
-------------------------
NINETY PER CENT OF
ADULTS IN THE UK DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROSTATE GLAND DOES
THOUSANDS of men will continue to be unaware of their risk of prostate
cancer unless they get to know their bodies better, The Prostate Cancer
Charity has warned.
The Prostate Cancer Charity Chief Executive, John Neate, said: "If
all men knew what the prostate gland does, where it is and how it can go
wrong it would help them realise that as they get older they are more at
risk of prostate cancer.
"The prostate gland is now the most likely part of the male body to
become cancerous and one in 11
UK
men is now at risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer.
"But our ICM poll, published today, shows that NINETY per cent of
adults in the
UK
do not know what the prostate gland does and the crucial role it plays
in a man's sexual function. Less than fifty per cent of people know
where it is located in the body and one in ten adults believes both men
and women have a prostate gland.
Speaking on the first day of The Prostate Cancer Charity's annual
Prostate Cancer Awareness Week (March 21-27) John Neate added:
"More knowledge will help a man decide the risks for himself.
"The risk of developing prostate cancer increases with age, it
increases if you have a father, uncle or brother who has had the disease
and it increases if you are from an African Caribbean background. Also,
if a man has problems associated with urinating, he should get them
investigated by his GP because it could be a sign of prostate problems.
"Men don't need to do anything with this knowledge immediately -
you can't self-examine the prostate and as yet there is no national
screening programme for prostate cancer. But learn about the prostate
gland, think about it and store the information away until you need
it," Mr Neate added.
The ICM poll commissioned by The Prostate Cancer Charity asked 1000
adults what the main function of the prostate gland was and only ten per
cent correctly answered that it produces some of the fluid that makes up
semen. Over a quarter of all those interviewed (27 per cent) thought its
role was to open and close the bladder and more than a third (35 per
cent) admitted to having no idea what it does.
A host of celebrities have backed this year's Prostate Cancer Awareness
Week Campaign including
East End
tough guy and
Hollywood
actor Ray Winstone, Pop Idol Judge Neil Fox, poet and playwright Dr
Benjamin Zephaniah, motor racing legend Sir Stirling Moss and his wife
Susie.
Motor racing legend, Sir Stirling Moss, said: "I had no idea I had
a prostate gland or that I was at risk of prostate cancer until I was
diagnosed with the disease. I was rather naive. Every man needs to know
they might be at risk of prostate cancer - it's an issue that affects us
all."
Susie Moss, Sir Stirling's wife added: "Awareness of cancer is
second nature to women. It would be an advantage to all men to be as
well informed as women are about their bodies. It's terrifying when your
husband is diagnosed with prostate cancer but early detection can make
all the difference. We need to help men be aware that cancer affects
them as well."
East End
tough guy and
Hollywood
actor Ray Winstone said: "Everyone talks about every other cancer
apart from prostate cancer - it's almost like a taboo. It doesn't lessen
your manhood to talk about this disease but it may shorten your life if
you don't.
"Most of us know so little about the prostate gland which is such
an important part of a man's sex life. More men need to feel as
comfortable talking about this gland as they do talking about their
other vital organs."
Pop Idol judge and London Capital Radio DJ Neil Fox said: "Until
three and a half years ago when my father sadly died of prostate cancer,
I, like most people was totally unaware of the prostate gland. It's
unbelievable that the first time many men learn that they have a
prostate gland is when they are diagnosed with prostate cancer or
someone close to them is affected by the disease.
"The problem is that nobody really wants to talk about this gland
because of where it is, but we can't afford to have those stuffy
attitudes any more if we want to beat prostate cancer. I want everyone
to be aware of the prostate gland, so no-one has to lose their dad early
like I did. Ignorance in this case is not bliss."
Poet and playwright Dr Benjamin Zephaniah said: "Every man wants to
reduce his risk of prostate cancer. What better way then to gain
knowledge, because knowledge is power. Fathers, brothers, uncles and
sons make a point of finding out about your prostate gland, locate it,
get to know it, and check out what can go wrong with it. You have a duty
to look after yourself, your family and your community. It's all about
knowledge of self."
NOTES
Every year 27,000 men are diagnosed with the disease and 10,000 men die
from it. Prostate cancer is now the most common cancer
diagnosed in men in the
UK
- every hour at least one man dies from this disease.
African Caribbean men are three times more likely to be diagnosed with
prostate cancer than their white counterparts.
A family history of prostate cancer is most significant if family
members have been diagnosed under the age of 65.
If you have any queries about prostate cancer call The Prostate Cancer
Charity's confidential helpline 0845 300 8383 which is staffed by
specialist nurses and open from 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday and
Wednesdays from 7 - 9pm.
Full survey results:
Question: What do you think is the main function of the Prostate Gland?
Answer:
35% of all adults questioned said I don't know 27% said it opens and
closes the bladder 15% said it makes male hormone e.g. testosterone 10%
CORRECT ANSWER- said it produces some of the fluid that makes up semen 7%
said it helps make urine 4% said it stores sperm 1%
said it is something else
Question: Where do you think the Prostate Gland is located in the body?
Answer:
48% of adults questioned got the CORRECT ANSWER and said it is at the
base of the bladder surrounding the urethra 18% said they didn't know
16% said it is in the scrotum and just another name for testicles 6%
said it is inside the bladder 5% said it is directly under
the kidneys 4% said it is inside the penis 1% said
that they were uncomfortable with the question 1% said it was
somewhere else
Question: Who do you think has a Prostate Gland?
Answer:
65% of all adults questioned said only men CORRECT 10% said men and
women 9% said only men over 45 9% said they don't
know 4% said they were uncomfortable with the question 3%
said only men under 45 1% said females only
Other findings:
Women
12% of men and 7% of women think men AND women have prostate glands 61%
of men and 69% of women know men only have a prostate gland 9% of men
think only men over 45 have a prostate gland, 8% of women agree 3% of
men think only men under 45 have prostate gland and 2% of women think
this 19% of women think the prostate gland is in the scrotum and just
another name for testicles 22% of women said they "don't know"
where the prostate gland is located 24% of women said the prostate gland
opens and closes the bladder
A limited number of regional results are also available
ICM interviewed a random sample of 1008 adults aged 18+, by telephone
between 26th and 27th January 2005. Interviews were conducted across the
country and the results have been weighted to the profile of all adults. ICM
is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. Further
information at www.icmresearch.co.uk
If you want to make a donation to The Prostate Cancer Charity call 0208
222 7622 or visit www.prostate-cancer-org.uk
(21/3/05)
|
|
