Ep. 3 Sooner Rather Than Later: The Benefits of Early Diagnosis

A Dialogue of Equals

In this episode, we discuss the importance of early diagnosis. We highlight the difference early diagnosis can make in the case of cancer (especially prostate cancer) and how getting information on time offers more options for deciding about treatment. We hear from an NHS urology clinician (Prof Rajan) and from three public contributors about their direct experiences of dealing with cancer for themselves and their family members.

Theme Music for the series is brought to you by the incomparable Wretch 32

Guests:

• Professor Prabhakar Rajan Professor of Urology and Robotic Surgery, Queen Mary University of London, Barts Cancer Institute.

• Mr Lloyd Gardner Public contributor and member of the Haringey Black Men’s Health action group

• Mr Derek Brown Public contributor and member of the Haringey Black Men’s Health action group

• Mr Kirk Brissett Public contributor

Resources to help with early diagnosis:

1) Check Tings Out (App)

Made by researchers in Nottingham Trent University (Seymour Smith et al) in collaboration with support group Friends and Bredrins (FAB)

Black-African and African-Carribean men – raising awareness to seek help for prostate cancer symptoms.

https://fab.isrg.org.uk/

2) The PROFILE Study: Understanding prostate cancer risk in black men (Youtube Video)

https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=A72hCjLN3gE

3) “Letter to my unpresented self” (Youtube video). Orchid charity – based on real life experiences of black men with PCa who have shared their stories with the charity to help create the characters, story and themes of the film.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88AyQszFr5E

4) Manversation: A woman’s guide to prostate cancer (Information leaflet) Developed by Bedfordshire Prostate Support group in collaboration with Orchid Male Cancer and Tackle Prostate Cancer charities: https://www.bpcsg.org.uk/_files/ugd/431ff2_3c862c41d78249529cfaaaad04ba437c.pdf

5) Black men and prostate cancer | Prostate Cancer UK

6) Info about all cancers, symptoms and testing: General cancer information | Cancer in general | Cancer Research UK

7) Disproportionate impact of smoking in Black communities: Tobacco-and-Ethnic-Minorities-Fact-Sheet-v3.pdf

Community groups and services for Black men at risk of or experiencing cancer:

• Friends and Bredrins – Nottingham: Friends and Bredrins Prostate Cancer Support Group HOME

• Errol McKellar’s MOT – Londo: The Errol Mckellar Foundation - Prostate Cancer affects 1 in 8 men in the UK and 1 in 4 men from a black African or Caribbean background. - MOT Yourself

• Cancer Black Care (Paul Campbell) – London: Cancer Black Care - Tackle Prostate Cancer