Our News

With prostate cancer the most common cancer in the UK,  early testing can identify the cancer (which is curable) at its most treatable stage. 

Dozens of men joined a huge awareness campaign at the weekend, with the aim of raising the profile of the disease and to encourage men to get tested.

And with 122 men tested in a single day by a dedicated team from North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust - led by surgeon Jyoti Shah MBE - the event could be on course to set a new world record.

Held at the Eaton Socon Health Centre in St Neots, the event was organised by prostate cancer campaigner Dave Young and St Neots Prostate Cancer Support Group, supported by volunteer-run Community Interest Company (CIC), Purple Horizons.

 

Around 100 men signed up to the campaign, following a request for local men to come forward to be tested. Numbers exceeded the expectation and Miss Shah believes that it could be a world record for the number of men tested in day.

An application has been made to the Guinness World Records, who will collate and verify the information based on the number of blood tests and physical examinations conducted on the day.

The PSA blood tests for the event, which typically cost £3.50 each, were funded by North West Anglia Hospitals' Charity. 

All patients seen are now registered onto the hospital system, having had their medical record checked, bloods taken and a physical examination. A handful of men have already been identified as needing a GP referral or hospital appointment

 

Miss Shah said: “Prostate cancer is a silent killer, but it is a cancer that we can cure if we pick it up early enough. It is the most common cancer in men in the UK, with one in eight being diagnosed as some point in their lives - and for men from an Afro-Caribbean heritage, the risk is one in four.

“The campaign was an enormous success and huge kudos to Dave Young and Purple Horizons for organisation such a well-attended event.”

Miss Shah added: “I am so very proud of and grateful to my team for their dedication and giving their time to support this important community event - and to our Hospitals' Charity for meeting the cost of the PSA tests.”

As well as patients from across the area, several civic guests also came along to support the day; including Dr Neil Modha, Deputy Lieutenant for Cambridgeshire; MP for St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire, Ian Sollom; Deputy Executive Leader for Huntingdon District Council, Cllr Brett Mickelburgh and St NeotsTown Councillor Sarah Pitt (Ward Councillor for Eaton Socon).

 

Cllr Pitt commented: “As a transgender woman, I am very aware that I still have a prostate, and that means prostate health remains important to me. I recently had a PSA blood test and wanted to share my experience because I think there needs to be much greater awareness of PSA testing, including within the trans community. 

“Prostate cancer doesn't always cause symptoms, and I wanted to make sure I was taking responsibility for my own health and having the right conversations with my GP. By speaking openly about having a PSA test, I hope I can encourage more people who still have a prostate, including trans women, to find out about PSA testing and consider whether it is appropriate for them.”

 

The North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust Urology team.

Ian Sollom MP, Dave Young prostate cancer campaigner, consultant Miss Jyoti Shah MBE; Angela Kenyon, Chairman Purple Horizons CIC; Cllr Sarah Pitt and Cllr Brett Mickelburgh.

  Lauren Henson Urology Lead Nurse and Clare Ford, Patient Navigator with one of the many patients who registered for testing.