Prostate Cymru has announced the launch of an innovative new E-module to help raise awareness of the disease amongst GPs, medical students and the public, with the hopes of quicker diagnosis and reduced workload in the NHS.
Prostate cancer is currently the most common cancer diagnosed in men and is the second biggest cancer killer in men in the UK. In Wales alone, men have a 1 in 8 chance of being diagnosed with the disease. The risk is increased to a 1 in 4 chance if the man is of Afro-Caribbean decent and a 1 in 3 chance if a male member of the immediate family has been diagnosed with the disease previously.
Yet, despite these statistics and recent spotlight in the news, the disease, its symptoms and how to test for it are still relatively unknown among the public, with less than 40 per cent of men actually knowing where the prostate is located in the body.
A quarter of all GP visits relate to urology matters, yet the subject only makes up a sixth of medical training.
To overcome this lack of awareness, Prostate Cymru has commissioned an online learning module that gives GPs access to information about the disease, including myths surrounding the disease, who is at risk, and how to test for and treat the disease most effectively and quicker diagnosis. A similar E-module will also be available for medical students and the public at a later date.
The aim of the E-module is to raise awareness and knowledge of prostate cancer and diseases, so that it will encourage men to visit their GP and get checked for the disease sooner. The earlier prostate cancer is diagnosed, the higher the chance is of a cure being made. Men can have a chance of a cure if a diagnosis is made within the early stages, whereas this drops significantly if diagnosis is left later.
With men receiving an earlier diagnosis in the first case, it can result in less repeat visits, meaning reduced workloads for doctors and less wasted NHS money and resources.
Speaking about the E-module, Andy Thomas, Chairman of Prostate Cymru and Consultant Urological Surgeon at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend, said: “With the recent news regarding prostate cancer deaths overtaking those from breast cancer, it is now more important than ever to raise awareness of the disease and we are making it a top priority. It is quite disheartening that there is a minimal amount of information readily available about the disease in comparison to other cancers, but hopefully with the launch of the E-module, this will change.
“What we believe is most important is helping GPs and medical students learn more about the disease and how to test and treat it, and helping men to understand the importance of getting checked out earlier rather than later. If left too late, there is less chance of the cancer being cured, which will inevitably cause more stress for the patient and place an added strain on the NHS.”
The GP E-module is also officially accredited by the Royal College of General Practitioners, which is a professional body for GPs in the United Kingdom with the purpose to encourage, foster and maintain the highest possible standards in general medical practice.
Prostate Cymru was originally launched as GLAZE, an acronym for GreenLight Laser, in 2003 to ensure that men in Wales had access to the best available treatments for benign prostate disease.
The charity is now one of the leading charities in Wales, working with medical professionals in the fight against all prostate diseases, benign and malignant. Its mission is to raise awareness, promote understanding and fund both the latest medical equipment and the training of healthcare professionals.