By: George Oliver
VOLUNTEERS who offer a groundbreaking prostate cancer screening service, administered from the lounge of their local pub, have received a House of Commons commendation for their “life-saving work.”
Founded more than two years ago the four-dozen strong group was the first of its kind in the region, their example now followed by four others in Sunderland, Darlington, Consett and Morpeth.
Initially they promoted awareness of the cancer’s threat at key outdoor and indoor public gatherings during the spring and summer. But earlier this year, backed by donations of £7,000 from the Durham City Freemen and the Durham City Parish Council, they offered free blood tests for the first time to men over 45 at local screening clinics. At least one more is being planned before the end of the year.
Backed by advice from the Cancer Screening Trust the clinics were publicly launched on Facebook and the appointment-based testing carried out by a County Durham-based specialist nurse.
The first two sessions were attended by nearly 150 men and analysis of blood samples flagged “red” a dozen men – who, supported by a specialist’s letter of confirmation – were referred back to their own GPs for follow-up action
The volunteers, who hold monthly meetings in the Brawn’s Den public house in Brandon, have applied for charitable status and remain confident it will be approved in the near future.
The Parliamentary Early Day Motion, sponsored by City of Durham MP Mary Kelly Foy and backed by other MPs reads: –
“This House commends the tireless work of the Durham District Prostate Cancer Group in their mission to raise awareness of prostate cancer and provide vital support to men and their families across County Durham: welcome their pioneering partnership with the Cancer Screening Trust which has moved beyond awareness-raising into the provision of life-saving clinical interventions: highlights the success of their first event at Brandon Community Hall, where local men were provided with access to PSA blood tests and essential follow-up support: acknowledges this initiative represents a significant milestone, being a first for the Brandon community and the rest of County Durham; recognizes such grassroots community-based screening models are essential for men who may otherwise face barriers to early detection; thanks the Durham District Prostate Cancer Group for their dedication to public health; and wishes the group every success as they seek to expand this vital screening programme across the region in the future.”
The group’s co-founder Les Cleckner, a retired maintenance team craftsman at the University Hospital of North Durham, and a Durham City Freemen, said screening sessions were by appointment only. But their second session, where 60 men were scheduled for examination, was overwhelmed by hopefuls without appointments resulting in an additional 14 being checked out.
“Prostate cancer is a silent killer which can be successfully treated, particularly if caught early. Many GP practices are unable to offer screening to apparently healthy men because of the costs involved. We were taken by surprise, not least by the distance some men were prepared to travelled and we tried to accommodate as many of the unexpected arrivals as we could,” he said.
Fellow co-founder Peter Carr, also a Durham City Freemen, added: “Before our screening tests the twelve men identified at our sessions were getting on with their lives, unaware of the potential threat they faced. They are the lucky ones, as are we to get help and support from a wide range of people at key stages of our development. Parliament’s public endorsement is yet another great example of that collective good fortune.”