On Focus

Martin Wells, a campaigner, fundraiser and support group leader from Lancashire, joins On Focus to discuss what it’s like going through prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment as a gay man. He set up two support groups to help men and their partners address these challenges  - Out with Prostate Cancer and Shaping Prostate Cancer Literacy.

Out with Prostate Cancer

https://outwithprostatecancer.org.uk/

Shaping Prostate Cancer Literacy

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjNP3x0ebbh7hbzHcEwudbg

Joining me today is Mish Middelmann, aka “Recovering Man”, the title of the popular blog he produces on his experience with prostate cancer.

Mish is an organic veggie gardener, prostate cancer survivor and convenor of the global Recovering Men prostate cancer support group. His blog at www.recoveringman.net very candidly chronicles his own prostate cancer journey and those of others affected by prostate cancer. In his professional life he is a systems coach helping leadership teams and organisations worldwide embrace both change and diversity and inclusiveness. Prior to this he was the co-founder and CEO of a software start-up in Johannesburg, South Africa.

He's here to speak with me today about the insights he’s gained through his own experience of prostate cancer and working with hundreds of others through his support community.

Today’s OnFocus features Michael Hoey, founder of Francis Medical in Minneapolis, Minnesota and a veteran healthcare entrepreneur  with a deep passion for helping men with prostate cancer. Prior to establishing Francis Medical in 2018 to focus on new treatments for prostate cancer, Michael co-founded NxThera to develop and commercialize urology applications of a vapor platform technology that he invented. This resulted in the highly successful treatment for non-cancerous prostate disease known as Rezum which is benefitting thousands of  men  across the world. Michael is a former professor, having taught and led research at the School of Medicine at the University of Minnesota.

He joins OnFocus to discuss new approaches to focal therapy and their adoption into medical practice.

https://www.francismedical.com/

Dr Art Rastinehad joins On Focus to discuss how focal therapy is being implemented in the US, and how US and UK clinicians and researchers are collaborating to advance its development.

Dr Art Rastinehad is Director for Prostate Cancer at the Northwell Health Cancer Institute in New York State and the Vice Chair of Urology at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.  He trained at the National Cancer Institute as an Interventional Urologic Oncologist and is the first urologist to be dual fellowship trained in Urologic Oncology and Interventional Radiology. He has expertise in a wide array of interventional radiological and surgical techniques, including image-guided procedures, prostate artery embolization, laparoscopic and robotic surgery, and he has authored and implemented clinical trials of new techniques in the diagnosis and treatment of localized prostate cancer, including focal therapy.

Recent publication - consensus on moving to Focal therapy Active Surveillance: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33676851/

Dr Art Rastinehad’s website: https://drrastinehad.com/

Alphonso Archer joins On Focus in this episode to discuss how his prostate cancer diagnosis changed his life in a very positive way and inspired him to reclaim his passion for music. Alphonso, a former IT sales professional decided, after a prostate cancer diagnosis in 2016, to pursue his lifelong love and passion for music and trained to be a music therapist. He is currently completing a master’s degree in music therapy and researching how men with prostate cancer benefit from music therapy for his dissertation. He is also an active member of a support group for black men diagnosed with and recovering from prostate cancer.

Alphonso Archer’s music:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/0p6CGWh3GSj8amuiU7Atsk

Alphonso’s research:

https://uwe.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4ZufpFVGmJOgBZY

Joining me today is Eva Tomopoulu, a patient advocate with the Focal Therapy Clinic. Eva is the first port of call for patients who approach the clinic, and she has engaged, guided and supported hundreds of men in their journeys to understand their prostate cancer diagnosis and ultimately to choose the optimal treatment for it. She’s here to talk about the role of patient advocacy and the benefits it brings to patients and their families.

The Focal Therapy Clinic is looking for new patient advocates. If this is of interest to you or someone you know, please get in touch:

https://www.thefocaltherapyclinic.co.uk/patient-advocacy-a-critical-asset-for-men-on-the-prostate-cancer-journey/

Joining me today is Raj Nigam, Consultant Urologist at the Royal Surrey County Hospital and the Focal Therapy Clinic. Raj’s clinical specialties centre around urological oncology and andrology. He manages men with all andrological conditions including erectile dysfunction, male infertility, Peyronie’s disease and male hormonal problems. He also has a major interest in prostate cancer and in particular, precision diagnostics and focal therapies

Raj is widely published in national and international journals, and has lectured extensively over the last 20 years. His current research interests are in advanced diagnostics in prostate cancer and the evolution of new treatments to treat prostate conditions.

He’s here today to address perceptions and misperceptions on personalised medicine –a term that we hear a lot about and which means many things to many people. I’ve asked him to join me and give his views on what personalised medicine means for diagnosing and treating prostate cancer.

Oliver Hulson, Consultant Radiologist at Leeds NHS Trust and Clinical Champion for Prostate Cancer UK joins OnFocus today to discuss the critical importance of radiology in the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer, and what he’s doing to both advance imaging effectiveness and instill these advances in clinical practice.

Joining me today is Errol McKellar, founder of the Errol McKellar Foundation which is dedicated to raising awareness of men’s health and in particular prostate cancer in the black community.

Errol has a legendary status in the London youth football community, having been a coach and scout for over 50 years and supporting the rise of premiership and England players Beckham, Cole and Campbell. His car repair garage in Hoxton has also become legendary – featuring in a documentary on his community now on Amazon prime and most impactfully as an information channel to black men about their health, and it’s this latter point that brings Errol to talk with me today.

Errol was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2010 and since then has dedicated himselt to informing & supporting men especially those in the black community about prostate cancer and, in particular, the importance of getting screened.

He’s been highly recognised for his services.

Errol is one of Prostate Cancer UK's main ambassadors and, along with Linford Christie, David Haye, Danny John-Jules, Viv Anderson, Chuka Umunna and Benjamin Zephaniah is fronting their Stronger Knowing More campaign, which encourages black men to get PSA tests.

In 2012 Errol was chosen to be one of the Olympic torch bearers in Hackney and in 2016 his volunteer work in the community was recognised by the Prime Minister when he was presented with a Points of Light Award. In 2018 Errol set up and launched The Errol McKellar Foundation and was invited to 10 Downing Street to talk to the Prime Minister, Secretary of State for Health and the Head of NHS England about the prostate cancer awareness work his new charity will undertake.

In 2018 Errol was awarded a NHS Heroes Award for his services to volunteering, and in October 2020, he was awarded an MBE for services to raising the awareness of Prostate Cancer.

Errol McKellar Foundation

https://www.theerrolmckellarfoundation.com/

The Street

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10999260/

Joining onFocus today is Marc Laniado, Consultant Urologist at with The Focal Therapy Clinic and a leading innovator in imaging led diagnostics and targeted treatments for prostate cancer. Marc has been a dedicated practitioner and vocal advocate for the rights of patients to be informed about their treatment choices from his base at Frimley Health, where he is prostate cancer lead at Wexham Park Hospital. He’s here today to talk with about how patients can be supported in understanding their diagnosis and choice of treatment through decision tools such as Predict Prostate.