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FEATUREFEATUREAngela Daniel, TeamLeader at St Ann’s Hospice Neil CliffeCentre, highlights the riskfactors, symptoms andsupport available for people livingwith prostate cancerRISKSProstate cancer is now the most common cancer in men in theUK (not counting non melanoma skin cancer). Age is the mostsignificant risk factor. Nearly two out of three prostate cancers arefound in men over the age of 70. It is quite rare in men under 50years of age.A person may also be more at risk if they:● Have a family history of prostate or breast cancer● Are black (of African ancestry) – prostate cancer is morecommon in black and mixed race men than white or Asian menSYMPTOMSMost men with early prostate cancer have no symptomsat all. However some men may display a number ofsymptoms. The most common symptoms of prostate cancerare an enlarged prostate and:● Having to rush to the toilet to pass urine● Difficulty in passing urine● Passing urine more often than usual, especially at night● Pain on passing urine● Blood in the urine or semenOther symptoms may include:● New pain in the lower back, hips or pelvis● Problems getting or keeping an erection● Weight loss (especially in older men)SUPPORTYou do not need to have all of these symptoms to have aproblem but it is important to contact your GP to findout what could be causing them. Your GP may want torun a series of tests and it can take one or two weeks toget the test results. It is important to remember thatmost enlargements of the prostate are benign (noncancerous)and can be easily treated.For further support and specialist advice please visit :● www.cancerhelp.org.uk/type/prostate-cancer/index.htm● www.prostate-cancer.org.uk (access to specialist nurseadvice via a free and confidential helpline 0800 074 8383 )● www.prostatecancersupport.co.uk (helpline 0845 601 0766)● www.pha.u-net.com/index.htmABOUT THE NEIL CLIFFE CENTREThe centre, part of St Ann’s Hospice, is based in the grounds ofWythenshawe Hospital. Experienced healthcare professionalsprovide rehabilitation and supportive care for patients and carersaffected by life-limiting illness. Outpatient services are providedat any stage of illness.If you have a diagnosis of prostate cancer, support isavailable from St Ann’s Hospice/the Neil Cliffe Centre– please telephone 0161 291 2912.Members of our Patient/Carer group share theirthoughtsProstateCancerMARCH 2010 IS PROSTATECANCER AWARENESSMONTH. WE SPEAK WITHTED CHATT, A FORMER NEILCLIFFE CENTRE PATIENT,ABOUT WHAT IT IS LIKE TORECEIVE A DIAGNOSIS OFPROSTATE CANCER AND THEHELP HE RECEIVED FROM THENEIL CLIFFE CENTRE, PARTOF ST ANN’S HOSPICE. HE ISALSO AN OUTSTANDING MEMBER OFTHE VOLUNTEER TEAM AND A MEMBEROF THE ST ANN’S HOSPICE PATIENTCARER GROUP :“When I was first diagnosed I wastold that the prognosis was not goodbecause the cancer had spread,” saysTed Chatt, a former patient and nowself-styled ‘crusader’ for the Neil CliffeCentre.Ted says his diagnosis at the relativelyyoung age of 63 came as somethingof a shock since he had virtually nosymptoms of prostate problems and hadinitially been referred to see a urologistat his local hospital after routine bloodtests suggested he might have kidneyproblems.“The consultant said my kidneys werefine then just came out and told me Ihad prostate cancer,” says Ted. “It wasa real shock but then I had previouslythought there might be somethingwrong as I had been having some painin my back and my groin which mydoctor had put down to me being a keengolfer.”Surgery was suggested and Ted wasreferred to the Christie Hospital buthe soon found out that this wasn’t anoption. The cancer had spread to hisspine meaning radiotherapy was alsonot possible. Instead Ted was givenanti-hormone drugs which, he says,have ‘done their job by holding thecancer back’.‘The first minute we walkedthrough the door Norma and Iknew this place was going to make areal difference’Ted and Norma talk to Team Leader Angela DanielWhile Ted has received fantasticsupport from The Christie he creditsthe Neil Cliffe Centre with turning hislife around.“About 18 months into my treatment Iwas feeling a bit low. I wasn’t in denialbut I was particularly worried abouthow my wife Norma would cope astime went on,” he explains. “I heardfrom The Christie about the Neil CliffeCentre and from the very first minutewe walked through the door Normaand I knew this place was going tomake a real difference to our lives.”Ted continues: “Both of us were madeto feel so welcome. Everyone had timefor us. They sat us down, made us acoffee and listened. I can’t tell you whatthey’ve done. I’d go as far as to say theNeil Cliffe Centre has made me who Iam today. It’s given me my focus anda really positive outlook. I can’t thankeveryone who works there enough.”As well as benefiting from a varietyof treatments including fatiguemanagement, massage and physiotherapy,Ted says it is the emotional supportgiven by staff and fellow patients whichmakes the biggest difference. “I havemade such incredible friends,” heexplains. “Meeting people and beingable to open up to them in a way thatyou can’t even do with your own familyis amazing. Norma has had so muchsupport as well.”Ted is now a member of the PatientCarer Group at St Ann’s Hospice whichmeets to find out service users’ viewson our services. He isalso a volunteer. “I can’tdo enough to extol thevirtues of the Neil CliffeCentre,” he says.Ted who has twochildren and twograndchildren enjoyslife to the full. Havingvisited Italy many timesin his professional life, he has a loveaffair with the country and its peopleand he and Norma enjoyed three visitsduring 2009. He has also done someambassadorial work with Neil Cliffehimself.“Things are looking good,” says Ted.“I still suffer from fatigue and hotsweats which are more a result of thetreatment than the illness but, overtime, I have learnt to master these.”Ted is keen to share his experience ofbeing diagnosed with prostate cancerand tell people more about the supportthat the Neil Cliffe Centre offers people.He has offered to talk to communityand other groups as well as individuals.If you would like to arrange a talk/visitplease call 0161 498 3635 or emailcwilliams@sah.org.uk in the firstinstance.Celebrity masseuse, Bongo Man, treats DayTherapy practitioner Cath Baena-ParrasComplementaryTherapyComplementary therapiesare used extensively acrossall three hospice sites tohelp and support patients.Helen Murphy, ComplementaryTherapy Co-ordinator at St Ann’sHospice, explained that the therapyteam is trained in a range ofspecialist techniques to assist with avariety of concerns such as fatigue,insomnia and anxiety.“Everyone enjoys a relaxing massagebut the complementary therapies weuse at St Ann’s Hospice are allspecialist clinical therapies developedto best assist our patients,” explainsHelen.Helen and some of the complementarytherapy team recently met celebritymasseuse to the stars, Bongo Man,who works at the exclusive SandyLane resort in Barbados and hasmassaged, among others, SimonCowell and Cindy Crawford.Bongo Man was in Manchester as aguest of entrepreneur Tony Fordwho flew him over to help raisemoney for St Ann’s Hospice andother local charities.“He was a big hit with everyone atthe hospice and was fascinated tolearn about the range of clinicalmassages our team has developed,”said Helen.4 5