PRESS RELEASE
27 October 2009
CHARITY WELCOMES ANDREW LLOYD-WEBBER'S STATEMENT ABOUT PROSTATE CANCER AS STEP TOWARDS GREATER PUBLIC AWARENESS OF DISEASE.
London, UK, – Prostate UK has welcomed the decision by Andrew Lloyd-Webber to announce openly that he has been recently diagnosed with early stage prostate cancer. Our charity believes that the composer’s high public profile will help raise awareness of the disease and encourage men to be more proactive in monitoring their prostate health. It is also hoped that an increased public awareness will break down some of the taboos that can prevent men from approaching their GPs about urological issues.
Prostate cancer affects 35,000 men in Britain every year but awareness of the disease is still relatively low. Open disclosures from celebrities such as Andrew can help to boost public awareness of diseases as was seen when Kylie Minogue was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 and Jade Goodie with cervical cancer in 2008.
Amanda McLean, Chief Executive of Prostate UK, said ‘We applaud Lord Lloyd-Webber’s decision to announce his diagnosis publicly. In the USA, where awareness of prostate cancer is much higher, Arnold Palmer, General Swartzkopf, Robert De Niro and Frank Zappa have all been frank and open about their diagnoses. I hope this will encourage other British public figures to use their fame to help stop prostate disease ruining lives by reaching out to men in similar situations to them.’
Lord Lloyd-Webber is expected to make a full recovery following surgical treatment and is due to be back at work before the end of the year. Had the cancer become advanced and spread from his prostate to the rest of his body, this may not have been the case.
Professor Roger Kirby, Director of The Prostate Centre said, ‘There are a number of treatment options for early stage prostate cancer and the earlier that treatment can begin, the better the outcome. I believe that it is important for men over the age of 50 to be aware of their prostate health by consulting their GP.’
For more information about prostate cancer, visit www.prostateuk.org
ENDS
Notes for editors:
About Prostate UK
Prostate UK is the only national charity dealing with all three prostate diseases: benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), prostate cancer and prostatitis. It funds both medical research and the training of healthcare professionals, provides free information on all prostate diseases and campaigns to raise public awareness without any government funding.
About prostate cancer
There are 35,000 cases of prostate cancer per year, and 10,000 men die of it every year. Prostate cancer has now overtaken lung cancer as the most common cancer to affect men. One in 13 men (7%) will be affected by prostate cancer.
About prostate diseases
One in two men will suffer from one of the three prostate diseases.
For further information about the work of Prostate UK or to arrange an interview with a spokesperson, please contact:
Gareth Ellis-Thomas, Communications Officer at Prostate UK
T: 020 8394 7971
M: 07814 740582
E: gareth.ellisthomas@prostateuk.org