A man from Sheffield joined forces with The Prostate Cancer
Charity, last week, speaking to Ministers, MPs and other decision
makers about prostate cancer awareness.
Denton Wilson, 55, from Sheffield, attended a crucial panel
discussion on the potential impact of NHS reforms at the House of
Commons. Professor Steve Field, who led the Government's listening
exercise on the NHS reforms, was on the panel.
Denton, who has been successfully treated for the disease, asked
the panel at the meeting, held by the All Party Parliamentary Group
on Cancer (APPG), and coinciding with Ethnic Minority Cancer
Awareness Week, what the Government was doing to let African
Caribbean men know about their increased risk of prostate
cancer.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in men in
the UK. Every year 37,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer.
The Charity is campaigning to ensure that men living with
prostate cancer, and men with a higher risk of developing the
disease have the information, services and support they need at a
time when more men are being diagnosed with the disease than ever
before.
Denton, who was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer in 1998
just before losing his father from the disease, said: "I was really
pleased to be invited to the House of Commons. Prostate cancer is
the most common cancer in men and more men are living with disease
than ever before. As someone who has experienced prostate cancer, I
know how vital it is that information, support and advice are
available. This is even more crucial for African Caribbean men,
like me, who are three times more likely to develop prostate cancer
than white men."
Denton adds: "My father died of prostate cancer when I was 42
years old. If he had more information about this cancer he might
still be alive today. I only went to my GP when I found out my
father had this disease. It is crucial that more men are aware
of the disease. With the NHS reforms I'm concerned that men won't
get the information they need about prostate cancer. We need
Government support to ensure this doesn't happen."
Owen Sharp, Chief Executive of The Prostate Cancer Charity, who
accompanied Denton to the meeting, said: "It was so important that
the APPG looking at the future configuration of cancer services had
a chance to hear directly from someone who spoke informatively, and
with personal passion, about the impact that prostate cancer had on
his life. Denton's questions also illustrated that any future
changes to the provision of cancer care services really need to
address the unacceptable variations in outcomes for men in
different geographical areas and from different parts of the
community.
"Last year the Government invested £11 million in cancer
awareness programmes for bowel, breast and lung cancer. Yet
prostate cancer, the most common cancer affecting men in the UK was
left out. It is crucial that MPs hear first hand from men
personally affected by the disease. With more men living with the
disease than ever before, we must ensure prostate cancer doesn't
slip off the radar."