Oxfordshire Prostate Cancer Support Group
Newsletter April 2018
AGM REPORT
The AGM on 5 March elected the following officers and Committee members: Chairman John Grundy, Vice Chairman Steve Tuck, Secretary vacant, Hon. Treasurer Dave Hawes, Committee members John Goldsmith, Jean Hawes, John Fowler, Brian Perry. Particular thanks were expressed to George Goldsmith, standing down after seven years on the Committee, five of them as Secretary. So we would still like to hear from someone who could help with secretarial tasks.
NEXT GROUP MEETING, MONDAY 23 APRIL
Professor Karol Sikora from Rutherford Cancer Centre Thames Valley speaking on ‘Proton Therapy – the prostate conundrum’. We are very fortunate to have such a distinguished speaker, an international leader in his field. You can read Prof. Sikora’s impressive CV here: http://www.karolsikora.com/. 6.30 for 7.00 p.m. at Oxford Golf Club, Hill Top Road, OX4 1PF.
PROSTATE CANCER IN THE NEWS
The government recently announced a government investment of £75 million into research focused on getting men diagnosed earlier and faster – the biggest investment in prostate cancer research we've seen. The charity PCUK wrote: ‘The news comes after months of media focus on prostate cancer that kicked off when we announced that prostate cancer is now a bigger killer than breast cancer. Keeping the disease in the public eye must have helped, but this is the culmination of years of hard work to shine a light on the problem.’ The fact that well known public figures such as Stephen Fry and Bill Turnbull were honest and open enough to let the public know that they had prostate cancer was an enormous help. OPCSG aims to build on this awareness locally and ensure that more and more men take their health seriously and get checked.
MEN NEED SANITARY BINS AS WELL!
There was a very positive response to the email I sent out recently inviting you to sign an appeal to an MP raising the issue of sanitary bins in male toilets. The issue clearly touched a chord, and dozens of you replied and signed the petition. Thank you! If like me you have had the embarrassment of needing to change a pad in a public toilet and wondering how to dispose of the old one, you will have understood the importance of the issue. You can still support the campaign at https://www.change.org/p/caroline-dinenage-mp-men-need-sanitary-bins-as-well-the-law-only-caters-for-women?utm_medium=email&utm_source=petition_signer_receipt&utm_campaign=triggered&share_context=signature_receipt&recruiter=682709594
Incidentally, I have just returned from a holiday in New Zealand, and I was bowled over by the excellence of public toilets there. Wherever you went, in cities, on beaches, in small villages, on remote forest trails, there was a public toilet, always clean, mostly with a bin. Oxford has a lot to learn about making facilities widely available and well maintained. This was one of my favourites, miles from anywhere in a deep forest on the aptly named Forgotten World Highway (five cars an hour), decorated by school children:
OXFORD BUS COMPANY
We have had a fantastic offer from Oxford Bus Company: they are going to make one of their double decker buses available to OPCSG for up to three years, with the opportunity for us to put information posters on the outside and inside of the bus, which will travel on different routes through and around Oxford. It’s a wonderful chance for us to get our public health message across, chiefly ‘Get checked’. There is much design work to do, but I’m hopeful that you will see the bus on the streets later this year.
This arose from the beer and cider festival raising money for PCUK at the King’s Arms, Kidlington, last year, where a former OBC employer took the initiative to the company. The King’s Arms is having another festival in May, all money raised going to prostate cancer via PCUK. If you are in Kidlington, go along and support – I can vouch for the excellence of their range of beer!
NEWS FROM MEMBERS
Toby Hawes, grandson of our Treasurer Dave and Committee member Jean, is running the London marathon to raise money for Prostate Cancer Support. If you would like to support this worthy cause, please click here:
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/toby-hawes
CAN YOU HELP AT AN EVENT?
OPCSG will be attending the following events this summer, with a gazebo, leaflets and volunteers to talk to the passing public. If you would like a good day out and the chance to spread our message, please contact John Goldsmith and tell him when you can help – john.goldsmith43@outlook.com, 01865 580152.
Sunday 13 May – Wallingford Car rally
Monday 25 June – Cassington Bike Night
Saturday 21 July – Witney Steam Fair
Monday 27 August – Uffington White Horse Show
FUTURE MEETINGS all 6.30 for 7.00 p.m., Oxford Golf Club (except the cruise)
11 June: Yun Wang, Prostate Brachytherapy ANP/ Radiotherapy Specialist Nurse from radiotherapy department, Churchill Hospital, on brachytherapy
Sunday 24 June: river cruise
10 September: Mr Steve Foley, consultant, Reading, on incontinence treatments
15 October: tba
If you no longer wish to receive this Newsletter please let me know on johngrundy191@gmail.com or 01865 730110. For news updates keep an eye on our website at www.opcsg.org.
John Grundy
Chairman, OPCSG