Prostate cancer marks 10th birthday
Work’s extended lives
The West Lothian Prostate Cancer Support Group celebrated a big occasion.
Their tenth anniversary was marked by a special event with over 120 members and guests.
Those who attended heard from Charlie Hogg the Group Organiser of the many achievements of the Support Group over those years in helping men diagnosed with prostate cancer while professor Rob Jones Clinical Director from the Beatson Clinic Glasgow told the audience about how treatment for prostate cancer has developed over the last ten years with advances in chemotherapy treatment and the success of new drugs.
They heard how all this has contributed to extending the life expectancy for men with prostate cancer and how traditional treatments such as surgery/ radiotherapy/ brachytherapy continue to provide a high rate of a full recovery.
Professor Alan McNeil, Consultant Urologist at the Western General Edinburgh, highlighted to the audience how he believed that help from the Support Group members with previous treatment experience was invaluable to those men newly diagnosed in helping them understand the treatment choices on offer and the possible side effects.
Charlie Hogg from the group said: “The success of the support group has been achieved because of the help given to each man from their own member buddy to see them through making a choice of treatments on offer and giving them support all the way through their months of recovery.
“The number of men diagnosed with prostate cancer will rise year on year and the work of the support group members will be vital to ensure men are helped at all stages from diagnosis through to recovery.”
For more information about the Support Group contact Charlie Hogg on 01506 845981 or e- mail him at charliehogg@ blueyonder.co.uk