Ulster GAA supporting Prostate Cancer Research

Pictured above (L-R): are Dr Aidan Cole, Consultant Clinical Oncologist/Senior Lecturer, Queen’s University Belfast and Oliver Galligan President, Ulster GAA.

Ulster GAA is delighted to be “Supporting Prostate Cancer Research” with the Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research at Queen’s University Belfast, for the third year.

Prostate Cancer Brief Facts

Over 4,500 men in Ireland are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year. In the UK, prostate cancer deaths have exceeded breast cancer deaths for the first time, with over 11,000 men per year dying of aggressive forms of prostate cancer. At present, 1 in 8 men will develop a clinically significant prostate cancer in their lifetime, with an increased risk for those aged 50 or more (the majority of cases are diagnosed in men aged 65+) or with a family history of prostate cancer.

How does prostate cancer present?

Prostate cancer is often diagnosed when men present to their GP with urinary symptoms, such as getting up more frequently at night to urinate, having an inability to empty their bladder completely or going to the toilet more frequently. It is important to note that whilst these symptoms can prompt investigations, more often than not, they indicate a benignly enlarged prostate. Many men are diagnosed with prostate cancer following routine checks in the absence of symptoms, most commonly, a routine blood test called Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA).

How is it treated?

Patients with localised disease within the prostate have a number of curative options available to them including surgery, radiotherapy, brachytherapy (seed radiation) and, in some instances, active surveillance whereby the cancer is low risk but monitored closely for signs of change. For some men, prostate cancer can spread to the bones and other parts of the body, leaving the disease incurable. However, even at this stage a number of newer treatments enable men to live with the disease for many years beyond diagnosis. If you have concerns about yourself or a family member, consult with your GP for further advice.

Prostate Research at Queen’s University Belfast

The Prostate Clinical Research Team at QUB comprises a team of Clinical Research and NHS Consultant Oncologists, coupled with expert scientific research from the Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research. The team’s ethos is to improve patient care through world-class clinical trials of new treatments. The Prostate Clinical Research Team is internationally renowned, leading the way in innovative trials which have improved treatment for many men, increased survival rates and reduced the side effects from treatment. In addition to improving education for patients and healthcare workers, the team supervise research from medical students, scientists, physicists and clinical doctors to sustain a culture of ongoing excellence in prostate cancer research. The team is dedicated to ensuring that our patients and their families have the best treatments at the correct time and that survival rates continue to improve for men diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Ulster President, Oliver Galligan, said “I am delighted to choose prostate cancer research as Ulster GAA’s charitable cause for 2021. COVID has disrupted our ability to promote our Charity Partner as we would normally have done over the past number of years. I would encourage anyone who can donate, to do so, as these much-needed funds will go directly to world-class research being undertaken by Queens University, Belfast.”

Dr Aidan Cole from the Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research at Queen’s University said “The Prostate Cancer Research Team at Queen’s is delighted to continue this strategic partnership with the Ulster Council GAA to improve education, diagnosis and management of men diagnosed with prostate cancer in our communities. We are proud of our strong links with the GAA community and endeavour to provide our patients with the best treatments available and lead in clinical trials that can transform the treatment of prostate cancer in the future.”

You can support the fundraising efforts by visiting Ulster GAA’s JustGiving page:

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Ulster-GAA1

For more information, please contact Maura McMenamin on maura.mcmenamin.ulster@gaa.ie