Changing Lives, Engaging Black African and Black Caribbean Men at Risk of or Affected by Prostate Cancer

‘Changing Lives, Engaging Black African and Black Caribbean Men at Risk of, or Affected by Prostate Cancer’ was a recent key initiative for Orchid. Every year, over 52,000 men get prostate cancer in the UK and 11,500 men die from the disease.

Sadly, one in four Black African and Black Caribbean men will get prostate cancer compared to one in eight men of other ethnicities (Prostate Cancer UK). However, only 14% of Black African and Black Caribbean men are aware of their higher risk, compared to a risk awareness of 54% among white men.

At Orchid, we are committed to raising awareness of prostate cancer by:

• Communicating risk factors, signs and symptoms
• Explaining treatment options
• Offering support with aftercare

The project was funded by the Big Lottery Fund: Reaching Communities Programme. Its aim was to raise awareness of prostate cancer among Black African and Black Caribbean men. We also wanted to develop support services.

It was successfully delivered across the seven London boroughs of Brent, Hackney, Lambeth, Lewisham, Newham, Southwark and Tower Hamlets.

• Increase understanding of prostate cancer among Black African and Black Caribbean men and their families.
• Raise awareness in the community of increased risk levels, risk factors, signs and symptoms, and the treatment journey.
• Encourage men to seek early medical help or advice.
• Provide specialist information for men, their families and friends, carers and the wider community.
• Provide specialist support for Black African and Black Caribbean men affected by prostate cancer.
• Equipping health care professionals to better understand the information and support needs of Black African and Black Caribbean men.

• Community partnerships with over 15 voluntary and statutory organisations.
• 125 community events where we engaged with around 12,000 people in local markets, shopping centres, places of worship, community centres and over 50s groups.
• Information points in local barber shops and libraries.
• Attendance at Black African and Black Caribbean community festivals.
• More than 1,600 posters, 42,000 z-cards and 26,000 helpline cards distributed during the programme.
• Support for five prostate cancer peer support groups serving Black African and Black Caribbean communities. Over 200 men have been supported this way.
• Our film about Terrence, Letter to my unpresented self, was shown in over 20 community/faith centres. It has been viewed over 83,000 times on social media.
• A photographic exhibition, 1 in 4, together with a one minute video, highlighted the fact that one in four Black African and Black Caribbean men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. The 1 in 4 video has been viewed over 82,000 times on Facebook and YouTube.
• Delivery of 14 awareness events for healthcare professionals about prostate cancer in Black African and Black Caribbean men.

We commissioned an independent evaluation of this project which can be downloaded by pressing the button below.

At Orchid we are committed to helping Black African and Black Caribbean men and their families with information and support. Please contact our Orchid nurses who are specially trained to help.