News
July 2008
The Prostate Cancer Charity wins place on DH Information Accreditation pilot scheme
The Prostate Cancer Charity has been chosen by the Department of Health to participate in the testing phase of its new information accreditation scheme. This scheme aims to standardise the quality of health information and provide a way for the public and professionals to know that the information they are using is reliable. We are delighted that we have been selected to be a pilot site to test the scheme alongside others from the commercial, public and voluntary sectors.
The Department of Health received over 120 applications and we are one of the 40 organisations selected. Over the next few months we will be involved in testing the quality standard, sharing our experiences of taking part in the scheme with other organisations and helping to develop the visual identity of the quality mark. The scheme will be rolled out in 2009. More information about the scheme is available at www.dh.gov.uk/accreditation
June 2008
Support and Information Specialist Helpline Nurse to work specifically with African Caribbean communities
African Caribbean men are three times more likely to develop prostate cancer than white men (1). In the past few years, the Charity has worked with African Caribbean communities to raise awareness of prostate cancer and the heightened risk of prostate cancer for African Caribbean men.
In a new development to expand our work with this high-risk population, the Charity has appointed Suresh Rambaran as its first Support and Information Specialist Helpline Nurse to work specifically with African Caribbean communities. Suresh will be spending two days a week within African Caribbean communities around the UK. Suresh will bring his expert prostate cancer knowledge and nursing skills to this community-based role, providing prostate cancer specialist nursing input to community awareness events and representing the Charity at local and national events to promote the Charity's work with African Caribbean communities.
Suresh is no stranger to this work, having been part of the Charity's Helpline service for four years, as well as having experience of development work with African Caribbean communities on a voluntary basis and through previous roles with Cancer Black Care, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Cancerbackup and Cancer Equality. He has been involved in numerous community based initiatives such as raising BME cancer awareness and production of literature for BME communities. He is currently part of the Cancer Equality steering group for the first BME Cancer Awareness Week, to be launched in July 2008.
Suresh is keen to build relationships with health care professionals and investigate setting up working partnerships with local health care professionals and community health workers. As an experienced Support and Information Nurse in the prostate cancer field, he is able to provide fellow health care professionals with guidance on raising awareness of the increased risk amongst their African Caribbean patients; advice on making services accessible for African Caribbean communities; as well as an insight into the cultural issues and taboos that surround prostate cancer within this community.
Suresh can be contacted on: Tel: 020 8222 7662
Email: suresh.rambaran@prostate-cancer.org.uk
NICE clarify guidelines on cryotherapy
NICE have added the following information to the audit support and implementation advice that support their prostate cancer clinical guideline:
‘The guideline development group considered that the evidence base, on quality of life benefits and long-term survival, was insufficient to place cryotherapy in the pathway of care for men with prostate cancer. They recommended that further research is required, comparing cryotherapy with established interventions in the context of controlled clinical. NICE has been in discussion with Industry, the British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS) and the Health Technology Assessment programme of the National Institute for Health Research to identify a way forward. It is anticipated that a national data collection will be established and surgeons wishing to undertake this procedure will be expected to contribute to the evidence base. The design and nature of this national study will be discussed with the BAUS. At the present time if surgeons are collecting local data that will be available for national analysis then this should be considered in accordance with the NICE guideline.’
You can view the full guideline and supporting documents on the NICE website.
April 2008
The Prostate Cancer Charity launches new booklet for newly diagnosed men
The Charity has worked with health professionals and men who have recently been diagnosed with prostate cancer to produce this new interactive booklet. Designed to be given to men at the point of diagnosis, the booklet includes space for men to record contact details of their specialist team members as well as details of their diagnosis and treatment options. The booklet is free of charge. Order your copies now.
'This new booklet from The Prostate Cancer Charity is a great resource for health professionals wanting to guide their patients through the diagnostic pathway and treatment options associated with prostate cancer. I will be
using the booklet with my patients to help them understand their options and to record all the details of their care that they will need after
diagnosis.'
Nicola James, Macmillan Nurse Consultant; Uro-oncology, Chesterfield NHS Foundation Trust and Winner of Nursing Standard Cancer Innovation Nursing Award 2008
March 2008
Jeremy Gambrill Award – Improving the experience of men living with prostate cancer
The Prostate Cancer Charity announces a competitive award to the value of £25,000, open to applicants based in the UK.
The award is to cover the costs of delivering both a project and written report which will make a practical contribution to improving the experience of men with prostate cancer. The selection of the winning project will be made by The Prostate Cancer Charity, following an interview of shortlisted candidates at the Charity’s offices in London.
To find out more about the award visit the Jeremy Gambrill Award page.
NICE is recruiting new members to independent advisory committees on the use of health technologies
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is recruiting new members to its independent advisory Appraisal Committee. The Appraisal Committee formulates recommendations for NICE on the use of drugs and devices in the NHS in England and Wales. The Institute is looking to recruit a range of committee members. Members of the Committee are drawn from the NHS, healthcare professionals, patients and carers, and the academic world.
The Appraisal Committee considers and interprets evidence on the clinical and cost effectiveness of health technologies (pharmaceuticals, medical devices, surgical procedures, diagnostic procedures and health promotion interventions), and formulates recommendations for NICE on their use.
NICE are looking to recruit individuals who have the experience and commitment to help the Institute take some of the most difficult decisions in public life, and in doing so to contribute to improving the quality and consistency of care provided by the NHS.
Individuals who are interested in joining the Appraisal Committee should log on to the Institute's website for information and an application pack. Applications should be made by 31st March 2008.
February 2008
NICE Guidelines for men with Prostate Cancer welcomed
Guidelines published by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) for the care and treatment of men diagnosed with prostate cancer have been welcomed by The Prostate Cancer Charity.
John Neate, Chief Executive of The Prostate Cancer Charity, said: "The care and treatment of men with prostate cancer is fraught with inconsistency and varied practice amongst doctors – not surprising given that evidence on the effectiveness of the various treatments available is often equivocal. The guidelines are an important attempt to clarify this evidence and to reduce the uncertainty into which men diagnosed with the disease can so easily fall.
"Implementation of the guidelines is critical, particularly with regards to the central role of information and communication for men affected by prostate cancer and their families, something often marginalised in favour of debates solely about treatment. Men need accurate and adequate information in order to make informed decisions about their treatment options, yet we know from survey reports from the National Audit Office* and from The Prostate Cancer Charity that there are major gaps in this area.
* NAO Report – Tackling Cancer: Improving the Patient Journey (25 February 2005).
November 2007
Speaker from BAUS Oncology conference endorses our diet fact sheet
Dr Laurence Klotz, who presented the latest evidence on diet at the BAUS Oncology/BPG meeting on 15th November, has praised our Tool Kit fact sheet on Diet and prostate cancer. He said,
"The diet and nutrition fact sheet put together by The Prostate Cancer Charity is a superb summary. A great deal of epidemiologic and laboratory data now supports the favourable impact of dietary modification and micronutrients on prostate cancer prevention. The advice in this fact sheet accurately reflects the lessons of these scientific findings. I'd encourage any man interested in prostate cancer prevention to use them as a guide to healthier eating and a longer life."
Order your copy of the Diet Tool Kit fact sheet from our publications page
Charter report reveals inequalities in the provision of Clinical Nurse Specialists
The Prostate Cancer Charter for Action has published a new expert report, Because Men Matter - the case for clinical nurse specialists in prostate cancer, which reveals the inequalities in the provision of clinical nurse specialists to support men with prostate cancer.
John Neate, CEO and Georgia Diebel, Health Services Liaison Manager, from The Prostate Cancer Charity, have been members of the expert working party.
Urgent call for specialist nurses
The Prostate Cancer Charity calls for urgent action to address inadequate access to specialist nurses
The Prostate Cancer Charity welcomes the findings of the Prostate Cancer Charter for Action report, Because men matter – the case for clinical nurse specialists in prostate cancer.
Ruth Holdaway, Director of Operations at The Prostate Cancer Charity, said: "This report highlights the need for urgent action to address the stark inequalities in provision of prostate cancer clinical nurse specialists."
She continued: "The report highlights the true extent of lack of access to prostate cancer clinical nurse specialists. It is unacceptable that clinical nurse specialists for men with prostate cancer on average have double the workload of newly diagnosed patients compared with breast cancer nurses. Breast care services have led the way and the Government now must address this deficit in prostate cancer care.
"From the Charity’s own evidence and in response to the findings of this report, The Prostate Cancer Charity has worked with educational partners to develop an on-line prostate cancer course and a two day Masterclass programme for nurses with a specialist interest in prostate cancer.
"Every year 35,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in the UK and specialist nurses play an essential role in their care and support. The Prostate Cancer Charity calls on the NHS to act on the recommendations of this report to double the number of specialist nurses working in prostate cancer, to reform their working practices and to provide tailored training and professional development for these key health care professionals."
Notes to editors
- Because men matter – the case for clinical nurse specialists in prostate cancer is available for download. Hard copies are available on request.
- The Prostate Cancer Charter for Action is the leading campaigning group on the disease. It is made up of charities, patient groups and professional organisations with a commitment to tackling the disease.
- The signatories of the Prostate Cancer Charter for Action are: British Association of Urological Nurses, British Association of Urological Surgeons, British Prostate Group, British Urological Foundation, British Uro-oncology Group, Cambridge Cancer Research Fund, Cancer Research UK, Cancerbackup, Help the Aged, Institute of Cancer Research, Macmillan Cancer Support, Men’s Health Forum, Men’s Health Forum – Scotland, PCaSO Prostate Cancer Network, Pro Cancer Research Fund, Progress, Prostate Cancer Research Centre, Prostate UK, Prostate Support, Tenovus, The Orchid Cancer Appeal, The Prostate Cancer Charity, The Prostate Cancer Research Foundation, The Scottish Association of Prostate Cancer Support Groups.
Mick Barrow, diagnosed with prostate cancer 4 years ago
"I was devastated to be diagnosed with advanced and aggressive prostate cancer - it was a complete shock. Fortunately I had an extremely experienced, helpful and understanding specialist nurse who got me and my family through that difficult time.
"Unfortunately I then learned that my specialist nurse's job was under threat. I still had a lot to come to terms with and an uncertain future, the added strain of not knowing how long my specialist nurse would be in position to support me and then losing her because of NHS cuts was really hard.
"I am extremely lucky to have a supportive family but a lot of fellas don’t have anyone who they can talk these things through with. For them, support from a specialist nurse would be particularly crucial."