More than 120 local men took part in a recent prostate screening event organised by Westbury Lions Club who say they are delighted with the response.
Following the event, held at Leigh Park Community Centre in partnership with the Graham Fulford Charitable Trust, a number of men have since been advised to follow up with their GPs for further checks – highlighting the importance of early testing and awareness.
Westbury Lions president, Angie Fawcett, said, “We are very pleased with how the event went and want to thank everyone who came forward to take part. Our aim was to raise awareness and make testing more accessible to local men who might not otherwise have had it done. We hope that by hosting events like this, we can help remove some of the stigma or hesitation around talking about prostate health.
“The public are increasingly aware of prostate cancer due to recent high profile cases, and therefore have a heightened interest in trying to recognise and treat the illness early. “Westbury Lions Club has contributed to the funding of PSA testing for local men, and provided a service to those who may not have otherwise gone to their own GPs to seek help.”
The Lions stressed that all test results are treated as strictly confidential and are handled entirely by medical professionals, in line with NHS and national cancer guidelines.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, with more than 52,000 new cases diagnosed in the UK each year. Experts say early detection offers the best chance of successful treatment, and men over 50 – or over 40 with a family history – are encouraged to discuss testing with their GP.
Pictured: A nurse from the Graham Fulford Charitable Trust at the Lions screening event last month
