African Caribbean men help to spread prostate cancer message in Leicestershire
A video featuring the personal experiences of men with prostate cancer will be showcased in Leicester at an event to raise awareness of the disease among African Caribbean men.
The inspiring 12-minute clip highlights the heightened risk for men from black and minority ethnic groups through the first-hand accounts of those who have successfully undergone treatment for prostate cancer.
It is part of a broader campaign taking place across Leicester to raise awareness of the condition. Viewers are told what symptoms to look out for as well as what to expect from the first visit to the GP and the treatment available.
The event, supported by the Leicester-based Centre for BME Health, will take place on Saturday, September 15, at the Moat Community College in Maidstone Road at 3pm.
The Centre for BME Health is funded by the University of Leicester and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRC) East Midlands.
Pamela Campbell-Morris, who is a Project Assistant and Community Champion at the Centre for BME Health, said:
“These inspiring accounts from the men who have kindly shared their stories will go a long way in spreading the prostate cancer message. I would encourage both men and women to attend this informal event.”
Professor Kamlesh Khunti is the Director of the NIHR CLAHRC East Midlands and is also Professor of Primary Care Diabetes and Vascular Medicine at the University of Leicester.
He added:
“Statistics show one in four African Caribbean men will develop prostate cancer at some point in their lives, compared to one in eight men from other backgrounds. It is vitally important that this risk is highlighted.”
Latest figures from Prostate Cancer UK revealed there were 11,819 deaths from prostate cancer in 2015 compared with 11,442 from breast cancer. This is the first time in the UK data has revealed male deaths from the disease have overtaken female deaths from breast cancer.
In March, the Centre for BME Health in collaboration with Prostate Cancer UK and ProstAID staged a free domino afternoon aimed at raising awareness of prostate cancer among African Caribbean men and supporting those diagnosed with the condition.
Specialist speakers provided information and answered questions about the condition at theevent called Play Domino, Talk Prostate, which focused on the game because of its cultural significance.
In April, Pamela talked to Leicester South MP Jon Ashworth about prostate cancer and the Centre’s work to raise awareness of the condition. They played dominoes together during the meeting. To view their chat, click here.
The Centre for BME Health is working to reduce health inequality in the region by sharing resources and promoting research.
The NIHR CLAHRC East Midlands is a partnership of regional health services, universities and industry which turns research into cost-saving and high-quality care through cutting-edge innovation.
To view the video, click here.
Notes to editors
For further details email oliver.jelley@ojpr.co.uk or call 07803 003811 or 01604 882342.
The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR): improving the health and wealth of the nation through research.
Established by the Department of Health and Social Care, the NIHR:
funds high quality research to improve health
trains and supports health researchers
provides world-class research facilities
works with the life sciences industry and charities to benefit all
involves patients and the public at every step.
For further information, visit the NIHR website www.nihr.ac.uk.
CLAHRC East Midlands is a partnership of regional health services, universities and industry which turns research into cost-saving and high-quality care through cutting-edge innovation. For further information, visit http://www.clahrc-em.nihr.ac.uk/.