Prostate Cancer awareness supported by Health and Social Care staff and students

This October, staff and students on our Health and Social Care undergraduate course hosted events and activities across campus to raise awareness of Prostate Cancer.

Prostate Cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK, with around 150 cases diagnosed every day and 1 in 8 men in the UK diagnosed in their lifetime (according to the World Cancer Research Fund).

With this in mind, our Health and Social Care students wanted to create a meaningful impact by working to implement social change. A goal that is closely related to the social purpose of the University, in which we are dedicated to supporting individuals to create positive change in their communities.

As part of the national campaign ‘Challenge 45’, they partnered up with the BGU sports and fitness centre to encourage volunteers to row, bike, walk, run, or join a class in order for them to reach their “45”, be it seconds, minutes, kilometres or miles.

The challenge raises awareness of the stark reality that every 45 minutes one man dies from Prostate Cancer in the UK (according to Prostate Cancer UK).

Leanne Leverton, Senior Lecturer in Health and Social Care at BGU, said: “Bringing a personal story to life as part of my teaching has enabled me to start to process what has happened.

“The events we have put on have strengthened the message that prostate cancer awareness should not be left to chance.”

Other activities involved a ‘Knowledge Exchange’ live stream hosted by Prostate Cancer UK – enabling staff and students to gain greater understanding around how to start lifesaving conversations, alongside a library display with books and resources and a Tea and Toast event hosted by the Chaplaincy Team.

As part of our Health and Social Care course, the programme, including awareness months, provide students with an appreciation of the importance of local and global public health. They are encouraged to explore how this relates to contemporary Health and Social Care practice and to offer suggestions of innovation and change to improve healthcare.

Jackie, a second year Health and Social Care student at BGU, said: “Learning and raising awareness for Prostate Cancer has inspired me, as a Health and Social Care professional, to consider other areas that we do not normally talk about.”