Charity-funded prostate cancer innovations to be showcased at Men's Health and Wellbeing Event

One in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime, making it the most common cancer in men. Thanks to the generosity of local donors, patients in Northamptonshire can now access some of the most advanced prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment options available on the NHS closer to home.

Northamptonshire Health Charity is inviting people to discover more about these groundbreaking developments at a Men's Health and Wellbeing Event taking place at Northampton General Hospital on Friday 6 November, from 12pm to 4pm in the Cripps Large Hall.

The free event will celebrate the innovative prostate cancer services now available at Northampton General Hospital and provide visitors with the opportunity to meet the experts delivering them, learn about the importance of early diagnosis, and access a wide range of health and wellbeing support.

A key focus of the day will be the pioneering prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment technologies that have been introduced at Northampton General Hospital with support from Northamptonshire Health Charity and its donors.

Among them is High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) focal therapy, a less invasive treatment option for some prostate cancer patients. Northampton General Hospital is one of only a small number of centres in the UK, and the first in the East Midlands, to offer this treatment on the NHS.

Visitors will also be able to learn more about the hospital's advanced fusion biopsy technology, which helps clinicians diagnose prostate cancer more accurately, and the NanoKnife system, which is helping to transform treatment options for suitable patients.

Together, these innovations are helping to establish Northampton General Hospital as a nationally significant centre for prostate cancer care, ensuring more patients can receive world-leading treatment closer to home rather than travelling elsewhere in the country.

Mr Chandran Tanabalan, Associate Medical Director for Clinical Efficiency and Productivity and Consultant Urological Surgeon at University Hospitals of Northamptonshire, said:

"One in eight men will develop prostate cancer, which is why early diagnosis and access to the very best treatment options are so important."

"The support of Northamptonshire Health Charity and its donors has enabled us to introduce pioneering technologies that are transforming how we diagnose and treat prostate cancer. These innovations place Northampton General Hospital among a small number of NHS centres offering advanced focal therapies, representing a major step forward not only for our hospital, but for patients across Northamptonshire and the wider Midlands."

As well as showcasing the latest treatment innovations, the event will bring together a wide range of organisations offering advice, support and practical help for people affected by cancer and other long-term health conditions.

Visitors will have the opportunity to speak with specialists from Maggie's, Macmillan Cancer Support, the Graham Fulford Charitable Trust, Talking Health Northamptonshire, local prostate cancer support groups and other health charities and organisations.

Free health checks, including blood pressure monitoring, will be available throughout the day, alongside information on smoking cessation, prehabilitation programmes, prevention initiatives and opportunities to access early diagnosis and treatment services.

Christina Kelly from Northamptonshire Health Charity, said:

"This is a fantastic example of the difference our supporters make. Donations have helped bring cutting-edge prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment technology to Northamptonshire, ensuring local patients can benefit from some of the most advanced care available on the NHS."

"We're incredibly proud that Northampton General Hospital is becoming recognised as a leader in prostate cancer care. The event is an opportunity to meet the experts behind these services, learn more about the importance of early diagnosis, and see first-hand how charitable support is helping transform healthcare for local people."

The Men's Health and Wellbeing Event is free to attend and open to patients, families and members of the public. No booking is required.

To find out more about Northamptonshire Health Charity and how donations help bring innovative treatments and equipment to local hospitals, visit www.nhcharity.co.uk