Charity’s welcome for prostate cancer funding boost
A CHARITY that works to raise awareness of and tackle prostate cancer is welcoming news to increase funding by £75 million.
Rebecca Porta, chief executive of the male cancer charity Orchid, said: “We welcome any new investment in prostate cancer if we are to avert the impending crisis facing the disease and the NHS over the next 12 years.
“In particular, the proposed funding for research into diagnostics is a significant move if we are to reduce the high number of men diagnosed at a late stage.
“We would also urge the Government to consider further investment in specialist urology nurses and public awareness if we are to improve patient care”.
Last week, the charity – which is supported by the Twyford Beer Festival – released a new report called Prostate Cancer: Britain’s Growing Problem. Its publication is to coincide with Male Cancer Awareness Week, which highlights a worrying trend in late prostate cancer diagnosis, with four in 10 prostate cancer cases being diagnosed at a late stage and 42% of prostate cancer patients seeing their GP with symptoms twice or more before being referred.
The report also highlights the lack of funding and recruitment of specialist nurses, with provision for uro-oncology nurses lagging well behind breast cancer nurses.
Rob Cornes, Orchid cancer nurse, said: “Compared to other specialities, urology specialist nurses are one of the smallest number yet have one of the biggest workloads. Many men with prostate cancer are missing out on vital support.”
Pauline Bagnell, uro-oncology nurse specialist and council member of the British Association of Urological Nurses, added: “It is so important that specialist nurses are where patients need them, whether that be in primary, secondary or palliative care. We need more prostate cancer and uro-oncology nurses now.
“With funding as short as it is currently, I am not hopeful that we will see a sufficient increase in specialist nurse provision to provide a nurse for each patient across the whole pathway any time soon”.
The team of medical experts contributing to the Orchid report set out specific requirements in relation to diagnosis, treatment and patient care and call upon the government and health chiefs to put prostate cancer further up the agenda.
Rebecca Porta said: “We want to ensure that prostate cancer receives a proportionate share of voice when it comes to implementing cancer policies and strategies. The announcement goes some way to achieving this but there is still more to do and our charity and patient organisation partners, will continue to push for the best possible outcomes”.