23 July 2007
Diane Abbott MP launches The Prostate Cancer Charity’S first African Caribbean postcard campaign
Wives, daughters, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, mothers and nieces - tell your husbands, sons, grandfathers, uncles, brothers, fathers and nephews. African Caribbean men are three times more likely to develop prostate cancer than their white counterparts.
To mark the start of the summer holiday season, The Prostate Cancer Charity is launching its first campaign targeting African and African Caribbean women, with the support of Diane Abbott MP.
The Charity is pioneering a new nationwide awareness campaign by sending 20,000 free postcards to key locations including beauty salons, social groups and African Caribbean supermarkets.
The Prostate Cancer Charity believes that empowering African Caribbean women with information could put them in a stronger position to talk to the men in their lives about prostate cancer - the most common cancer to affect UK men which kills one man every hour.
Diane Abbot, MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, said: "I have long been a campaigner on issues relating to black health and in particular those concerning African Caribbean men. I fully support the work the Charity is doing to help raise awareness of the disease amongst the African Community in the UK and wish them every success with this campaign. Knowing where to turn for good information and support is the first step available to us women in dealing with the effects this devastating disease can have on the men in our lives."
The Prostate Cancer Charity is inviting women to fill in a postcard with their address and return it to The Prostate Cancer Charity. On receipt of the card, the Charity will send out a free guide to prostate cancer with information about how to find out more if they know someone who has concerns.
Ali Orhan, Community Involvement Manager at The Prostate Cancer Charity, said: "We have been working specifically with African and African Caribbean communities to raise awareness of prostate cancer for three years. I have been very encouraged by all the support we have received. The simple fact is that African Caribbean men are three times more likely to develop prostate cancer than their white counterparts. So, it is vital to make as much noise as possible about prostate cancer.
"This campaign is a direct response to what people have been telling us they need. Although only men can get prostate cancer, we know women can play an important role in ensuring that the men in their lives are given the best possible chance of beating the disease by knowing more about the risk factors involved and being proactive if they have concerns."
Ghanaian borne, Philip Kissi, 49, a Diversity Manager for the Department of Work and Pensions, South London, was diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer in 2006. Phil visited his GP after watching a feature on BBC One’s City Hospital programme about prostate cancer and despite having no symptoms he felt he needed to know more.
After persuading his GP to perform a blood test and then have a biopsy, Phil, a father of three, underwent robotic surgery for prostate cancer on 4 October 2006 at Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Hospital, London and was back at work by the 25th of that month.
Phil is engaged to Linda, 32, who is also a civil servant. Both Phil and Linda are keen to help The Prostate Cancer Charity with its postcard campaign and raise awareness of the Charity’s African Caribbean Project because they believe that knowing about the disease has saved Phil’s life.
Phil said: "It is terrifying to think that I could so easily have carried on without knowing anything about prostate cancer despite the fact that it is the most common cancer to be diagnosed in UK men.
"Luckily my GP was very supportive when I raised my concerns with him and I caught the cancer in time to have successful treatment but it saddens me to think that others may not have this chance.
"Ultimately it is up to us men to respect and take responsibility for our health but I needed a lot of support from my friends and family and I believe this postcard campaign will help others receive that.
Linda, Phil’s fiancée said: "It was a real shock when Phil was diagnosed with prostate cancer and I wanted to be with him every step of the way. The first thing I needed to do was learn about the disease so I was in the best position to help him. The Prostate Cancer Charity’s confidential Helpline and free information and support were a vital step in helping me achieve that. It is great to see that thousands of other women will have the chance to find out more about the disease too."
If you are interested in ordering the postcards for yourself, friends & colleagues or perhaps for an event you are organising, please contact Ali Orhan at The Prostate Cancer Charity on 020 8222 7654.