Praise for work of Wrexham Prostate Cancer Support Group

The work of a local prostate cancer support group has been praised for its work raising awareness of the illness and the help it provides to men across the area.

The Wrexham Prostate Cancer Support Group was set up ‘to raise public awareness and promote the cause of prostate cancer, to provide support for those men who have prostate cancer or suspect that they may have symptoms.’

The group meets at the Trevor Arms in Marford once a month to support fellow members and listen to expert advice from visiting speakers who
are often clinicians involved in prostate care. The next meeting will take place on Wednesday 7 February at 7pm.

Sarah Atherton MP recently met with Mal Williams and Phil Jones MBE of the Wrexham Prostate Cancer Support Group, on the same day that King Charles III received treatment for an enlarged prostate.

Ms Atherton has previously facilitated grant funding for the group.

Through multiple fundraising efforts, the group has raised almost £80,000, meaning it can purchase an advanced Cryotherapy machine for Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

Cryotherapy, which is a treatment to freeze prostate tissue and destroy cancer cells, is just one of several treatment types available to patients.

However, this is not currently in place due to a lack of a licensed clinicians at the local hospital who are able to use the equipment, meaning that patients have to travel elsewhere to access the treatment.

Ms Atherton has written to the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to see how this can be resolved.

The group is now seeking to support the Urology Department at the Maelor to become a Centre of Excellence for the treatment of prostate cancer in North Wales.

During the course of the meeting, Wrexham’s MP discussed concerns regarding NHS waiting times in Wales.

The Welsh Government’s target that 75% of patients in Wales should begin treatment within 62 days of cancer first being suspected has never been met by a health board.

Performance data from November 2023 revealed that over 41% of cancer patients at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board waited over 62 days to begin treatment after cancer was first suspected.

An additional concern raised by the local support group was that North Wales patients who require a prostatectomy often travel to London, in a hire vehicle driven by a voluntary service driver, due to the extensive waiting times in Wales.

The group also raised concerns that some local GP surgeries have reportedly prevented eligible men, who are aged 50 or over, from accessing PSA testing.

Any man can make an appointment with their GP to discuss having the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test.

If you are aged 50 or over and decide to have your PSA levels tested after talking to a GP, they can arrange for the test to be taken, free of charge, on the NHS.

Sarah Atherton MP commented: “It was inspiring to meet once again with Mal Williams and Phil Jones of the Wrexham Prostate Cancer Support Group.

“They are both community champions and the group does such valuable work, including raising tens of thousands of pounds, to raise awareness of prostate cancer.

“Their service to our community is a lifeline to many people in Wrexham.

“Prostate cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths in UK men. In light of this, I would encourage every man who is concerned or has detected any symptoms of prostate cancer, to contact their GP.

“With that said, I am concerned that so many cancer patients in Wales are having to wait much longer than the Welsh Government’s target time before they begin receiving treatment.

“The Welsh Labour Government must take responsibility for the Welsh health service and stop failing cancer patients here in Wrexham.”

Phil Jones MBE, Secretary at Wrexham Prostate Cancer Support Group, commented: “We received the warmest of welcomes and it was a great opportunity  to share the group’s work with Sarah.

“Naturally, we covered the positives and progress in terms of reaching a £60,000 target to purchase new technology at the Maelor and extending our group membership base to 80.

“We highlighted to Sarah that there is not one piece of technology in place at Wrexham to treat prostate cancer patients.

“Although some opportunities are available at Glan Clwyd and Bangor Gwynedd, there are very lengthy wait times to receive treatment.

“In recent weeks, several of our members have been sent to London in a Hire Car, had the treatment, and returned home by hire car three days later – not exactly the ideal scenario.

“We were encouraged to provide a priority list of where we felt Sarah could help us move our agenda forward and we look forward to receiving her support.”