At GFCT, we are proud to have been largely involved in gaining over 138,000 signatures in collaboration with PCR for a petition that demands a national prostate cancer screening programme in the UK. We are now supporting the Proactive For Your Prostate campaign, asking you to take 2 minutes to contact your MP to ask for their support on this cause. 

Today, we share a powerful message from Brian, who has stage 4 incurable prostate cancer. 

“Hi 

I’m Brian, and I’m asking for your help to fight for fairness in prostate cancer screening. 

Nearly eight years ago, I was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer. I was 64, fit, healthy, and had no symptoms. By the time I noticed something was wrong, it was too late – the cancer had already spread to my bones. The news was devastating. My father also died from prostate cancer, but unlike him, I didn’t have any of the classic symptoms. If screening had been available, maybe my story would be different. But because it wasn’t, my cancer can’t be cured. 

That’s why the Proactive For Your Prostate campaign is so important to me - it is why you may have seen my story earlier this year on Facebook asking you to sign our petition. We’re fighting to make sure no man has to experience this simply because there’s no screening programme in place. Right now, it’s up to individuals to notice symptoms, but as I know all too well, by the time symptoms show up, it’s often too late. We have to change that. 

I am asking you to contact your MP as part of our Proactive For Your Prostate campaign today and help make screening a priority. 

On August 27th, we launched this campaign to demand the government introduce a targeted screening programme focussed on high-risk groups - men with a family history of prostate cancer, Black men and men with certain genetic mutations (such as BRCA 1/2). I hope that in the not-too-distant future we will also see a universal screening programme in place for all men. I will continue to fight for that, as will PCR. But I am pragmatic and a realist. I know that doing something is better than nothing. That if we can get this first step in place we can save many lives now while we wait for outputs from the TRANSFORM clinical trial, which we hope will take us the last mile. 

What has happened so far? 

• We delivered a petition with 138,642 signatures to 10 Downing Street.
• Over 3,000 people have written to more than 300 MPs asking them to support prostate cancer screening. There are 650 MPs in Parliament and we need each of them to hear from their constituents who are personally affected by this disease.
• More than 35 MPs have engaged with us so far, which is great, but we need more.

What is next? 
In November, Prostate Cancer Research will be presenting a major piece of evidence at the House of Commons to make the case for screening. This could be a turning point, but we can’t do it alone. We need as many people as possible to keep up the pressure on decision-makers ahead of the National Screening Committee and Treasury meetings.

How can you help? 

I’m asking you to join me in this fight. Please, if you haven’t already, contact your MP today by visiting www.ProactiveForYourProstate.co.uk. It takes just a few minutes, but it could help save thousands of lives.

• If you have 1 minute, tweet at your MP and ask for their support.
• If you have 2 minutes, email your MP using PCR's template.
• If you have 5 minutes, write them a personal letter about why this matters.

Visit www.ProactiveForYourProstate.co.uk to take action. 

For me, this isn’t just a campaign. It’s a fight for the lives of men like me who deserve a chance at early detection and a cure. My cancer is responding to treatment, and I’m lucky to still be here nearly eight years later, but many men aren’t so fortunate. We shouldn’t have to rely on luck to survive. Screening can and will save lives – but only if we act now. 

With my on-going gratitude 

Brian 

On behalf of Prostate Cancer Research”