Confronting the uncomfortable reality of prostate cancer
amongst black and African-Caribbean men.
The launch of 'Hear Me Now - One Year On' in the House of Commons with a series of recommendations for local and national government, was followed by a round table meeting chaired by NHS England Clinical Director, to drive national action. Local Task & Finish Groups were formed to drive local action in key areas of London, Birmingham, Nottingham and Leeds. This involved 20 target authorities:
London
- Barking and Dagenham
- Bexley
- Croydon
- Enfield
- Greenwich
- Hackney
- Hammersmith and Fulham
- Haringey
- Islington
- Lambeth
- Lewisham
- Newham
- Southwark
- Tower Hamlets
- Waltham Forest
UK
- Birmingham
- Manchester
- Leeds
- Nottingham
- Wolverhampton
Recommended Areas of Action
National
- Refresh Prostate Cancer Risk Management Programme guidance
- Recommended PSA-test age to be lowered for Black African Caribbean men
Local
- Prostate cancer included in Joint Strategic Needs Assessments
- Additional Community-based Prostate Cancer Services.
The HMN Reports can be downloaded here
As a campaign initiative, Nottingham City CCG was approached to highlight the concerns of the local Black African and Black Caribbean Community in relation to prostate cancer. A proposal was submitted to Nottingham CCG by BMECC after initial meetings in January 2015. The CCG subsequently agreed to pilot a local service for 18 months, which was to run from 25th April 2016 – October 2017. This led to the first community drop-in clinic called Check Tings Out
Hear Me Now. The uncomfortable reality of prostate cancer in black African-Caribbean men
Black African Caribbean men have a 3-fold higher risk of developing prostate cancer and are more likely to present with prostate cancer at an earlier age (approximately 5 years younger than white British men) and have a higher death rate. Authored by Dr Rose Thompso CE of BME Cancer Communities (BMECC), the Hear Me Now reports emphasised the fact that prostate cancer in black men is a clear health inequality.
Hear Me Now. One Year On
The follow-up report entitled Hear Me Now: One Year On, presented compelling evidence to demonstrate that a concerted effort was needed to ensure that those at higher risk of prostate cancer can be identified early and treated effectively. This call for action led to the national Hear Me Now (HMN) Campaign following a series of recommendations for national and local government.
Hear Me Now. One Year On
The follow-up report entitled Hear Me Now: One Year On, presented compelling evidence to demonstrate that a concerted effort was needed to ensure that those at higher risk of prostate cancer can be identified early and treated effectively. This call for action led to the national Hear Me Now (HMN) Campaign following a series of recommendations for national and local government.