Supporting prostate cancer patients
April 2010
ACT is raising money towards a new state-of-the-art multi-use ultrasound scanner for the urology clinic at Addenbrooke's to support patients like Ian Smith (right).
Prostate cancer kills 10,000 men a year in the UK. And yet, as Ian Smith’s story (link below) shows, if it is detected early there is every chance the patient will make a full recovery. But how can men be expected to spot something with no outward signs?
The simple answer is, they can’t. That’s why ACT is fundraising to help the Addenbrooke’s urology clinic buy the new ultrasound scanner they so urgently
need to aid early detection.
Although the clinic provides an excellent service with the current scanners, the team aren’t always able to see the prostate as clearly as they would like, which makes it difficult to take precise biopsies. Because they don’t want to miss cancerous cells, they take numerous biopsies from different areas. With the new scanner they will be able to see the prostate more clearly and target the biopsies, which will make the diagnosis faster and more reliable and reduce discomfort.
The new scanner, which costs £72,980 really will have a huge impact on the 1,500 men like Ian – the fathers, husbands, brothers and sons – seen at the clinic each year. For some of them, it will even mean the difference between life and death.
"Right now, there could be many, many men in the region who are completely unaware of the cancer growing inside them. It’s so important that we’re able to spot prostate cancer, before it’s too late. Please make a donation without delay." David Neal, Professor of Surgical Oncology, Addenbrooke’s Hospital
To make a donation online just click on the link below right.
When Ian Smith was diagnosed with prostate cancer at Christmas 2008, it was a difficult time. But over a year later and following innovative keyhole surgery to remove his prostate, with the help of the state-of-the-art Da Vinici robotic surgeon (funded with ACT's help), Ian's story is a happy one.
