by Michelle Horst
A Hornsea and District Lions Club £7,000 donation has made a life-changing project possible for Eastgate Medical Group.
Thanks to the Lions’ fundraising efforts, doctors at the surgery have developed a service to improve the early diagnosis of prostate cancer. The project embodies the Lions’ aims to change and improve lives in the community the club serves. Those involved say the donation may have a long-reaching, lasting effect on lives across the region.
The charity Prostate Cancer UK advises that people with a family history of the disease are at a higher risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer. Other factors include age and being of black ethnic origin.
Dr Tami Byass, a GP at the medical group that serves Hornsea and Aldbrough, explained how the process was created: “We started a project where we’ve been sending out text messages to men between 50 and 70.”
Initially, messages targeted a small group to screen for additional tests, with approximately a third responding to the texts.
Dr Byass was excited to reveal the lifesaving effects the donation has had, saying: “We’ve already picked up one man who has had his curative surgery.”
Modern developments and technologies mean that tests and treatments are no longer as invasive. However, PSA blood tests, which measure for a protein, may miss early signs of the cancer.
Lion Gerry Woolfenden co-ordinated with doctors at the group. He recognised the amount of work involved, and the need to cover costs.
Mr Thorpe said: “Knowing that it’s already found one, just one, has proved that it’s worth it. It’s a small amount of money to save somebody’s life.”
Dr David Garwood expressed how important the project was as it expanded. He also acknowledged the difference it would make.
Mr Thorpe spoke of the efforts of Mr Woolfenden and Dr Byass: “There were a lot of chats. Gerry did a lot of organising.”
To maximise the benefits, the project was developed to include younger generations, expand beyond geographical boundaries, and prevent overwhelming urology departments. The pilot scheme is being shared with the Leven and Beeford Medical Practice.
Dr Byass added: “Without additional funding, it’s very hard to get the resources to deal with these things. Obviously that takes a lot of coordinating, admin and tracking.”
Dr Byass, who is also a lead GP for the Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance, plans to share the successes of the scheme with other healthcare professionals across Yorkshire.
The £7,000 donation also enabled the group to purchase new dermatoscopes, a key piece of equipment to examine skin lesions and help improve early diagnosis of skin cancers.
Incoming Lions president Ken Thorpe and outgoing president Mick Parry presented a cheque to Dr Byass and Dr Garwood on Monday, June 30. Mr Woolfenden could not attend the presentation because of the hot weather effects on his guide dog.