Local men’s health charity CHAPS is holding a Prostate Cancer Screening Day in the Sir Bobby Robson Suite at Portman Road today (10am-1pm).
Prostate Cancer is our biggest single cancer challenge with deaths in the UK having risen to nearly 12,000 per year, a rate now exceeding deaths from breast cancer.
This is one of the highest death rates in the world, yet no NHS prostate cancer screening programme exists, despite nearly all current major international guidelines recommending screening with a simple blood test.
CHAPS works to raise awareness and provide opportunities for men to be screened - being in a screening programme can halve the risk of dying from Prostate Cancer - and they have joined forces with the Barry Kilby Prostate Cancer Appeal to put on a screening event at Portman Road.
Barry Kilby was the chairman of Burnley until he was found to have advanced prostate cancer as a result of a screening in 2012.
Barry had no symptoms, despite the cancer having spread widely. Fortunately he responded well to treatment and he has subsequently devoted time and money to offer screening to save lives, as his was saved.
He has run events for hundreds of men at his football club Burnley and since then at Preston North End and Blackburn.
Screening is for all men over 40 and is particularly recommended for men with a family history of prostate or breast cancer or of black African and Caribbean background, who have twice the risk compared with white men.
Come along to Gate 17 at Portman Road where you can gain entry to the Sir Bobby Robson suite any time from 10am to 1pm and have a simple blood test. No appointment is necessary. There will be a minimal donation of £5.
As well as the support of the Barry Kilby Prostate Cancer Appeal, CHAPS is grateful for the support of the East Suffolk Prostate Cancer Support Group, the Caribbean & African Community Health Support Forum.