Date Published: 10 June 2011

Irish Cancer Society Launches Prostate Cancer Awareness Campaign to mark Men's Health Awareness Week 2011 (Jun 13-19)

The Irish Cancer Society has just launched a Prostate Cancer Awareness Campaign to mark Men's Health Awareness Week 2011 (Jun 13-19).

A major part of the campaign is described as the:
"Prostate - There I've said it" Campaign

This is designed to tackle the stigma and embarrassment that surrounds prostate cancer and is being promoted by Irish media personalities Bryan Dobson, Matt Cooper and Micheál O'Muircheartaigh.

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men in Ireland after skin cancer. Over the course of their lifetime, men having a one in eight chance of developing prostate cancer. According to the most recent statistics, 2,859 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2009 with 92% of the cases occurring in men over 55.

Irish Cancer Society CEO John McCormack said

" Raising awareness of prostate cancer and encouraging men to look after their health is one of the key aims of our campaign and of Men's Health Awareness Week. Men need to be reassured that prostate cancer is increasingly a disease that men live with rather than die of.
_ Prostate cancer rates in Ireland are high and it is thought this can be attributed to the high number of Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) tests that are carried out. Men need to be aware of the advantages and disadvantages of having this test and we are encouraging men to start the conversation and call our National Cancer Helpline on 1800 200 700 and speak to a specialist cancer nurse."

This awareness campaign forms part of an overall strategy aimed at transforming men's prostate cancer journey.
The Irish Cancer Society has made available an anonymous survey to help understand men's prostate cancer experience.

" Men ringing the National Cancer Helpline (Freefone 1800 200 700*) have shared stories with Irish Cancer Society nurses that they are not being told about the full range of treatment options, nor of the side-effects that occur as a result of treatment (such as incontinence and erectile dysfunction) and how long they will last. The inadequacy of support for men has led to a stifling embarrassment preventing open communication about prostate cancer and its impact on their lives," Mr McCormack continued.

" We want to give men the confidence to start talking about their prostate with each other and to break the silence and end their unnecessary suffering once and for all. Through our strategy we aim to transform men's overall experience of prostate cancer in Ireland", he said.

The Millward Brown Lansdowne Research survey, targeted at men with prostate cancer, is available until June 29th at www.cancer.ie/prostate. This survey is completely anonymous and should take 5-10 minutes to complete. It is also available as a postal questionnaire which can be requested through the National Cancer Helpline (1800 200 700). The results will help the Irish Cancer Society gather evidence to better understand the diagnosis and treatment of men diagnosed with prostate cancer and then work to shape improved services and supports for them. The Irish Cancer Society will then develop a Patient Charter and work with the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) to adopt it as a best-practice model for men with prostate cancer.

* Ireland only.

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