Telephone tales
Breakthroughs in research and the recent NAO report have massively increased media coverage of prostate cancer. As a result, The Prostate Cancer Charity has been inundated with calls from concerned men. We met with Helpline nurse, Ingrid Spickett, to find out how they are coping.
What impact does the media have on the number of calls the Helpline receives?
Well, every year we receive a massive amount of calls. Last year we received 16,000 calls in total and next year, we expect to get even more. In addition, call volume always increases in response to newspaper articles, TV and radio coverage. At the end of last year, there was an article in a national newspaper that prompted a staggering 751 calls the following week – that’s a 200 per cent increase!
How do you cope with this increased pressure?
Sometimes we don’t receive warning of media articles and that can prove problematic. Of course, that’s not an excuse that the hundreds of concerned people who call us want to hear. Neither is it one that we want to give. That’s why, as soon as we hear about a media story – and our Media Team is excellent at keeping us up to speed – we start gathering as much relevant information as we can. It means that we are able to respond rapidly and accurately and, if need be, refer people appropriately.
Can we learn anything from our callers?
Although the majority of callers are seeking support and advice, some people do phone us to pass on knowledge that could benefit others. We really value these calls because our resources are limited and we aren’t always aware of regional developments in prostate cancer care. For example, we pass on information about new support groups or research projects as soon we hear about them.
If you have any information that might benefit men with prostate cancer and their families, please call the Helpline on 0800 074 8383.
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