Attendees at the “Living with and Beyond Prostate Cancer” event in Altnagelvin Hospital.
The Western Health Trust has held a “Living with and Beyond Prostate Cancer” event in Altnagelvin Hospital.
The first of its kind event was designed specifically for men who were diagnosed in the past year with prostate cancer and their family members.
There was a series of short talks by healthcare professionals on topics around living with and beyond prostate cancer and how to improve their health and well-being.
There were also representatives from the support groups to provide information on the services that are available locally.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in Britain. There was an average of 965 prostate cancers diagnosed each year in Northern Ireland between 2006-2010, 134 of these were in the Western Trust area.
The 10 year prevalence of prostate cancer is increasingly rapidly, rising from 2,707 survivors in 2002 to 5,976 survivors in 2010*.
Kerry Chambers, Uro-Oncology Nurse Specialist and facilitator of the event said:
“We are delighted that our first ever prostate cancer support event was so well attended by men and their families in the Western Trust area and the feedback we received was extremely positive.
“A diagnosis of prostate cancer, like any cancer can be a traumatic time for men and their families. Many men with prostate cancer find it easier to talk with others who are going through experiences like theirs and we would encourage men to avail of their local prostate support group.”
The support group is facilitated by a Cancer Focus Northern Ireland counsellor and a Uro-Oncology Nurse Specialist – Kerry Chambers.
Meetings are held around four times a year at Agnes Jones House in the grounds of Altnagelvin Hospital.
For further information on the support group, you can contact:
Kerry Chambers, Uro-oncology Nurse, telephone 02871296145
Michael Gibson , Cancer Focus NI Counsellor, telephone 02871345171 extension 213353
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