It’s Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, and to raise awareness Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Public Health and Service Transformation Jacob Allen is taking part in Prostate Cancer UK’s March the Month challenge.
Prostate cancer was the second-leading cause of cancer death in men in Brighton & Hove between 2016 and 2020. 1 in 8 men will get prostate cancer but it is easier to treat if it is caught early. In 2019 over 50% of prostate cancers were diagnosed at stages 1 and 2.
Prostate cancer can have no symptoms and your risk of developing prostate cancer is higher if you are over 50, are Black, or have a family history of the disease. If you are concerned about your risk, speak to your GP.
Councillor Jacob Allen is joining thousands of people across the nation, committing themselves to walk or wheel 11,000 steps a day throughout March to represent more than 11,000 men who die from prostate cancer each year.
The money raised in the challenge for Prostate Cancer UK will fund vital research into lifesaving treatments for prostate cancer and provide practical support to men and their families affected by the disease.
Councillor Jacob Allen said: "Early detection of prostate cancer is vitally important because it significantly increases the chances of successful treatment. Raising awareness of the symptoms and signs is key to ensuring that more men seek medical advice early.
“As residents of Brighton & Hove, it's crucial that we take proactive steps to protect our health. Learning the signs and symptoms of prostate cancer and speaking to your doctor can make all the difference.”
Signs and symptoms of prostate cancer:
Know the risk factors and check your risk using Prostate Cancer UK’s risk checker.
Support for people before, during and after treatment is available at the drop-in service for Prostate Cancer Support at the Horizon Centre in Brighton on the second Tuesday of each month from 11am to 1pm.
The Trust for Developing Communities (TDC), with Hangleton and Knoll Project and Macmillan Cancer Support – known as the Act on Cancer Together Partnership (ACT) - raise awareness of the early signs and symptoms of cancer and support residents to attend cancer screenings and access support if they receive a positive diagnosis.
