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Prostate Cancer Its a Man Thing

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Introduction of our project team

My name is John Hoo (stage name Johnny Hoo) and I am a prostate cancer patient at the QE

Cancer Centre, Birmingham, under the care of Professor Nicholas James.

On the 7thNovember 2013 we organised a jazz concert at the Bramall Music Building, Birmingham

University, with special guest Courtney Pine and numerous local jazz musicians and friends to raise

awareness of prostate cancer particularly in the Birmingham black community; support Prostate

Cancer UK and the QE Hospital Charity by raising funds (over 4,000) and to say thank you to my

health teams for their continuing care over the last 3 years.

We realised how effective music was in conveying the message, especially within the black

community, and that we needed to target black men in particular to be aware of prostate cancer

and to educate the health services to their specific cultural and social barriers. We also realised

that this would benefit all men as the profile of Prostate Cancer through music could have agreater impact.

Team members

Mr John Hoo, drummer, Andy Hamiltons Blue Notes, retired businessman

Professor Nicholas James, Oncologist, Cancer Centre, QE Hospital, Birmingham and

University of Warwick

Ralf DeCambre, musician, joint partner of project

Lesley Stevenson, Organiser, Unite the union

Usha Kiran, Cancer Centre, QE Hospital, administrator and fundraiser

Mikey Godfrey, Grosvenor Road Studios, Recording Engineer

Kevin Baldwin, Animator

Background

Prostate cancer is roughly twice more common in men of African origin. Additionally, once

diagnosed, Afro-Caribbean men have worse outcomes. Reasons for this are complex and may

include: intrinsically worse disease, poorer access to treatments, delayed presentation by the

patients and delayed referral from primary care after presentation.

There is probably not a single explanation and all of these factors play a role. Clearly issues around

disease biology are hard to alter. However, attitudes to presentation and referrals for

investigations with symptoms in Afro-Caribbean men will be highlighted through this campaign.

Particularly the need for trans-rectal examination to diagnose prostate cancer may clash with

cultural attitudes to rectal examinations. Also, some of the issues around presentation and referral

may relate to attitudes in primary care in poorer inner city areas.

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Prostate Cancer Its a Man Thing

Prostate Cancer UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1005541) and in Scotland (SC039332). Registered company number 2653887

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Supporting...

The aim of this fund raising project is to:

1. Raise awareness amongst men that they need to check it out and talk about it through

music and promotional campaign.

2. Support awareness campaigns in the community, workplaces, churches, unions and events

similar to breast cancer to ensure better outcomes for men using music and social media,

as a medium, including Community Peer Educators.

3. Sponsorship of a Man-Thing-Vanwhich includes the latest high-tech scanning

equipment.

4. Support research into barriers to early, appropriate referral particularly within the Afro-

Caribbean population and in primary care. This may include research into the need for

rectal examination, as an initial response, is necessary given the latest technology which

may improve acceptability, increase presentation and earlier referrals.

Action

The team have produced an educational musical recording, entitled: Prostate Cancer. Its a Man

Thing. A short animated advertisement to accompany the recordings will also be available.

We aim to raise over a million pounds for prostate cancer awareness as part of Prostate Cancer UK

during its initial phase which will run for one year starting November 2014 ending with a Grand

Finale Concert with leading Musicians in Birmingham.

There will be many different events targeting awareness regionally and nationally utilising the

innovative medium of music as an educating tool in as many forums as possible.

This could lead to a sustainable approach to ongoing awareness and high profile annual musical

events.

Prostate Cancer Its a Man Thing Available from November 2014 and will cost:

On sale for 1 at 600 online stores (Apple iTunes, Google Play,

Amazon MP3, Deezer, Nokia, Vodafone, Beats Music, Spotify, Rdio,

Tesco, HMV, Simfy, Shazam, 7 Digital, Sony Unlimited and hundreds

more) covering 128 countries A CD version will cost 3.99 per CD

There are various musical versions including:

A short awareness seminar by Professor Nick James with Wayne Irie with musical

background

Wayne Irie with a reggae rap

Funk Jazz featuring Boo accompanied by Johnny Hoo, Ralf DeCambre, Mark Hamilton,

Andy Peate, Adrian Gibson

Bhangra version, featuring Mendi Mohinder Singh, Ash Kumar and Bob Singh. To bepromoted at Diwali Festival, October 2014