Being diagnosed with prostate cancer is harrowing enough, but many people are unaware of the side effects the condition and treatment can have. The charity Prostate Cancer UK is trying to change this. As part of the Movember campaign, the charity has launched the True NTH initiative, with the aim of significantly improving the lives and experiences of men with prostate cancer, as well as the experiences of their partners, carers and family members.

‘True NTH is a game-changer in cancer management that will lead the way in supporting the survival of men living with prostate cancer. It will revolutionise the provision of care for prostate cancer survivors and I truly believe that in the coming years, governments and funding bodies will look at True NTH as a model of care to follow,’ says University of Southampton Professor, Dame Jessica Corner, who is also chair of Movember’s Global Prostate Cancer Survivorship Advisory Committee.

Prostate cancer survivor and a volunteer for Prostate Cancer UK, John Marshall agrees: ‘True NTH takes the luck out of the health system; it will provide equal access to information and resources that will genuinely improve the lives of those men living with prostate cancer.’ Incontinence is one of the most commonly cited problems for men post prostate cancer treatment, with some men enduring lifelong urinary incontinence.

Prostate cancer UK believes that ‘men are poorly served by current UK continence services which often don’t meet their needs’ and that ‘research evidence shows, men lack information about products.’ As part of the project, the charity is planning a multi channel campaign to increase men’s awareness of the use of continence products, including creating training packages for health professionals on the issue for prostate cancer survivors.

Health care professionals are being encouraged to get involved and can register their interest by emailing professionals@prostatecanceruk.org.

Movember 2015

The Movember Foundation challenges men to grow moustaches during ‘Movember’ (November) each year to encourage discussion about men’s health issues and to raise funds for men’s health programmes. The Movember community has raised £346 million to date and funded over 800 health programmes in 21 countries. Prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health issues for men are priority conditions for the charity’s funding programme.

This year, Mo Bros and Mo Sistas are asked to get involved again in November to ‘change the face of men’s health’. For more information see the website or download the Movember app. https://uk.movember.com/get-involved/