It’s some time now that the Trust aided the club with the “Barry Kilby click HERE)” prostate appeal and testing day at the Crown Oil Arena in January this year (2019).
As a Trust we have published under our Welfare Section on the Daletrust website (daletrust.co.uk ) detailed information on Prostate Cancer and other Prostate Problems, focusing on early detection and supplying support sites for those that may eventually need, we also highlighted the simple test which can be taken, which was a simple blood sample to look at Prostate Antigen Levels which gives an indicator if trouble is on the horizon, that information we published on Prostate Cancer can be found HERE and the Prostate Test can be viewed HERE along with various help sites.
The one thing we stressed was this,
Prostate cancer generally affects men over 50 and is rare in younger men, but it can happen
It’s the most common type of cancer in men.
Around 37,000 men in the UK are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year, and they are just the ones who had the courage to seek medical advice
It differs from most other cancers in the body, in that small areas of cancer within the prostate are very common and may stay dormant (inactive) for many years.
It’s thought that about half (50%) of all men over 50 may have cancer cells in their prostate, and 8 out of 10 (80%) men over 80 have a small area of prostate cancer. Most of these cancers grow very slowly and so, particularly in elderly men, are unlikely to cause any problems.
On the day we had 192 men attending the testing, with results being sent in most cases within a week.
Results
1) The results were as expected with most attendees falling into (at that moment in time) into a green group 89 (89%), green being ok. However the recommendation is that they seek to be tested again the following year to ensure they stay in that group and we recommend they seek the simple test via their own health centre.
2) We did have a proportion who by national expectations fell into the Amber group ( 3.65% ), Amber suggesting a follow-up and to seek medical advice from their GP or health professional to flag up and monitor potential Prostate changes which may require attention in the future.
3) And finally a proportion fell into the red group ( 6.77% ) who were personally advised to seek immediate medical advice and treatment to which we hope is now proving successful.
Overall the exercise did what we hoped it would, it showed up the early signs along with flagging to some that they needed immediate GP assistance.
That’s just over 10% of the 192 who were picked up and required some sort of intervention, and for those in that group additional support would be offered by the East Lancs Prostate Cancer Support Group along with other own health care professionals
It is safe to say that the Testing day has saved lives and in others extended life expectancy, the day was a success and we are grateful as a Trust to the Kilby appeal and the support given by the Rochdale AFC, especially Director, John Smallwood.
Those 192 hundred men proved, we hope, to be the vanguard for others to take the test and save their lives. The trust hopes it can be involved with future initiatives of this nature in the future and will be publishing further on the subject.
Those that attended now know what is required, a simple painless blood sample, and we hope they will arrange for regular testing via their GP or health professional, it’s wise to be safe, and remember early detection of change means a safer outcome, so if you feel something is not right, or you detect something different, be wise and speak to your GP.
For those that wish more information on the Barry Kilby Appeal you can find it HERE
Remember without Barry’s initiative none of this would have happened
For those that wish to see sign posting to support agencies and additional information then click HERE and scroll down to Prostate Cancer.
Finally, the trust additionally acknowledges the support given by Rochdale AFC director John Smallwood who spoke prior to the testing day about his own Personal Prostate Problem, John was open and fully endorsed the testing and supported those on the day. We appreciate John’s openness and willingness to share.
Though a sensitive and private time we would welcome from maybe one or two, who for them the day proved significant, maybe some words how the day effected them and their progress to date, whilst it would help others we full appreciate the sensitive nature of this and wish to not intentionally intrude into any ones privacy.
The Trust has a confidential help line and email address where people requiring more help, maybe with sign posting to appropriate organisations or just a those requiring a friendly ear and support
That information is held in confidence by the welfare team and will not be disclosed to any one save for any exception where the team think a person may be a risk of serious harm
our contact details are
These are the Confidential Contact Numbers
Email: welfare@daletrust.co.uk
Phone: 07795216741