Prostate Cancer support group launches in Scarborough     

Following the success of a voluntary support group for Bridlington men with Prostate Cancer, a second group is launching in Scarborough on Tuesday 14 April 2015.  

The group will take place at the Westover Club on Westover Road in Scarborough. It will meet on the second Tuesday of every month at 7.30pm.

The Bridlington group was established by Carol Popplestone and Carolyn Spence, Clinical Nurse Specialists at York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust who give their time voluntarily to provide help and information to men who have prostate cancer and their families .  

Following its success in Bridlington, Carol and Carolyn decided to set up a second group in Scarborough.  As well as guest speakers there will be the opportunity to speak to Carol and Carolyn as well as sharing a cup of tea with other sufferers and their families. 

Last year, the Urology Department at Scarborough Hospital saw 168 new cases of Prostate Cancer.

Cases of prostate cancer have risen in recent years which can be attributed to increased education and awareness. 

Prostate cancer does not normally cause symptoms until the cancer has grown large enough to put pressure on the urethra which normally results in problems associated with urination.

Carol Popplestone, Macmillan Urology Nurse Specialist, said: “These groups are invaluable as they offer individuals and their carers support and advice. It also gives men an opportunity to talk with other men who are dealing with prostate cancer.

“Early detection is the key to enabling better outcomes and potential cure of prostate cancer so it is important that men are aware of the warning signs.”

Prostate cancer does not normally cause symptoms until the cancer has grown large enough to put pressure on the urethra resulting in problems associated with urination. These can include, the need to go to the toilet more frequently and during the night, difficulty or hesitancy in weeing, a weak flow or a feeling that your bladder has not emptied fully.

If you have any of these symptoms, don’t delay in going to be checked out by your GP. 

Men over the age 50, or 40 with a family history of prostate cancer, should talk to their doctor about testing for prostate cancer using the PSA test as part of their annual health check-up

All men aged over 50 are entitled to have this blood test, which measures the total amount of prostate specific antigen (PSA) in your blood.  This test can be done at your GP surgery.

Prostate Cancer Symptoms

Prostate cancer does not normally cause symptoms until the cancer has grown large enough to put pressure on the urethra. This normally results in problems associated with urination.

Symptoms can include:

• needing to urinate more frequently, often during the night
• needing to rush to the toilet
• difficulty in starting to urinate or pee (hesitancy)
• straining or taking a long time while urinating
• weak flow
• feeling that your bladder has not emptied fully

These symptoms shouldn’t be ignored but they do not mean you definitely have prostate cancer. Many men's prostates get larger as they get older due to a non-cancerous condition known as prostate enlargement or benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Symptoms that the cancer may have spread include bone and back pain, a loss of appetite, pain in the testicles, and unexplained weight loss.

Men at increased risk of prostate cancer include men with a family history of the disease (father or brother), men over the age of 50 and Black men.

09 April 2015