As someone who has cycled lots in the past and heard about cycling causing increased risks of prostate cancer, it was good to read this somewhat reassuring article by Professor Robert Thomas: https://www.nationalworld.com/health/can-cycling-damage-the-prostate-what-men-can-do-to-protect-themselves-4564820 Cycling appears to not be without some possible risks - the importance of a comfortable saddle is covered in the article! And also cycling more than eight hours a week does seem to increase risks...indeed a six-fold increased risk of prostate cancer for those who rode over 8.5 ..read more

Well actually the post on their website is only a very small part of the story but happy to share especially as it will be used in March to promote awareness around prostate cancer. See it at: https://pennybrohn.org.uk/2024/02/26/philips-story/  ..read more

As one of 90 patient advocates with Inspire2Live from around the World I am joining in this call to improve access. Do join in with publicising this on social media. Support our Patient Advocate Statement on Improved Access to Oncology Medicines As representatives of patients and advocates, we are deeply committed to ensuring equitable access to essential oncology medications for all patients burdened by the challenges of cancer, especially for those living in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) who face significant barriers to adequate health ..read more

I originally wrote this blog for Yes to Life in July 2021 - and have copied it here with some minor updates as several folk have asked and it is not easy to find on the Yes to Life site at the moment. I'm guessing folks could probably add some more books to this list now? Following on from Best Books for those newly diagnosed with cancer we have now asked our Wigwam members and Yes to Life team which books they would recommended for good nutrition and great recipes. In the first section we have books with cancer-related or focused information and in the second section general cook b ..read more

I had always meant to do a blog on this topic but it is quite daunting so in the past I have skirted around the edges with blogs on coconut oil, mushrooms, gluten, ghee, olive oil and more. A recent podcast by Dr Geo Espinosa is a great introduction for anyone starting out. It is by no means comprehensive and lots I'd love to add but he manages to get loads into the 38 minutes. One interesting aspect which I have touched on previously in this blog is around the Keto Diet. I have several excellent books on this but have so far remained unconvinced that it is right for prostate cancer - Dr Geo a ..read more

Delighted to see I am at number 26 out of 213 prostate cancer blogs on FeedSpot - ranked by traffic, social media followers and freshness. Check out the others at:https://cancer.feedspot.com/prostate_cancer_blogs/  Many seem to be linked to organisations or products and it looks like very few take a focus of integrative health ie getting the best from conventional, lifestyle and complimentary approaches. Furthermore to add more info to climb the chart it looks like I would have to pay a subscription to FeedSpot - but as I noted when I started this blog it was more for me to get my head a ..read more

Dr Keith Block has long been regarded as the father of integrative oncology - he combines cutting-edge conventional treatments with individualised and scientifically-based innovative, complementary and nutraceutical therapies. His book is one of my favorites and listed by Wigwam Cancer Support group member's in their top 10 books for when newly diagnosed with cancer - see here. This interview by Michael Lerner of Cancer Choices is from October last year - it is well worth a listen - and if you want more of Keith then there is also a Yes to Life interview here ..read more

Launching Issue 3 - Stroud Wigwam Support Group Flourish, the magazine by and for the cancer community, have launched an open call for submissions for the fourth issue of the free print and digital magazine, around the theme of ‘Balance’. The call-out is open to those affected by cancer, either themselves or through loved ones, inviting contributions of art, creative writing, photography, music, film, dance and more.  Some time ago I was inspired by several magazines from The Hive that used art to tackle cancer subjects like body image and sex. Well with support from a local char ..read more

Here's info I hadn't come across before....the connection between 'vertex baldness ie hair loss at the crown of your head and aggressive prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). A study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2014, found that men with moderate baldness at the front and crown of their head by age 45 were found to have up to a 40% higher risk of developing aggressive prostate cancer compared to their non-balding counterparts. This was supported by other studies. The reasons for this seem to be linked to hormones...both conditions are influenced b ..read more

Cartoon by Russ Professor Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for the UK, in this video (see 39.42) says 'for example prostate cancer, there really isn't very much you can do to prevent it but you can identify the aggressive forms earlier.'  This was a 'Distinguished Lecture Series' talk out two weeks ago looking at 'Health in an ageing society'. It is certainly true that unlike some cancers (eg breast and cervical), research into how to prevent prostate cancer remains poor. However we do know that there is strong evidence that being overweight increases the risk of being diagno ..read more