Harpenden prostate cancer survivor joins quality care campaign

A PROSTATE cancer survivor has joined forces with a national charity to encourage MPs to help men diagnosed with the disease receive the best possible care.

Steve Gledhill, of Cravells Road, Harpenden, travelled to Westminster last Wednesday with campaigners from Prostate Cancer UK to promote their new Quality Checklist.

This aims to stamp out the variations in the care given to men with prostate cancer by promoting a best practice guide for patients and clinicians from the point of diagnosis.

During the day the 62 year old met with several MPs, including St Albans MP Anne Main, all of whom showed their support for the national initiative.

Mr Gledhill, who was successfully treated for prostate cancer four years ago, said: “I felt encouraged that there was so much support for the charity.

“Having had the disease and been saved it is close to my heart.

“It is an ongoing process but it has definitely raised the profile and if this check list is adhered to then the standard of care will be improved.”

Prostate Cancer UK is also working closely with men and their families, healthcare providers, and health professionals to ensure the checklist is implemented throughout the UK.

Dr Sarah Cant, director of policy and campaigns at the charity, said: “There are over 215,000 men living with prostate cancer in England, many of whom have to make difficult treatment choices or cope with tough side effects.

“It’s not good enough that they also face a postcode lottery when it comes to the quality of support and information they receive to deal with this. “

She added: “It is vital that every man with prostate cancer has access to the world class information, care and support he needs and deserves if we are to help men have a better quality of life in the future.”

It has been said prostate cancer will be the UK’s most common cancer by 2030. Around 10,000 men die from the disease every year.