As part of my address at the Provincial Annual General Meeting in July this year, I announced that the Province would be launching the Prostate Appeal as our primary fundraising effort.
The drive for this is to raise awareness of, and generate support for, charities based around the issues and complications of prostate cancer. Risk of this disease increases significantly after the age of 50 and is the most common cancer found in men – prostate cancer affects 1 in 8 men in the UK. The numbers reduce to 1 in 4 for men from ethnic minorities and also worsen if certain cancers have been found on either your paternal or maternal side of the family.
I am now pleased to advise that the Province of London has teamed up with the CHAPS charity to carry out PSA testing for brethren aged between 40 and 80 and who are not currently receiving any prostate cancer treatment.
Behind heart disease, prostate cancer is one of the biggest killers in men! Currently, unlike breast cancer screening, there is no nationwide NHS screening programme for prostate cancer. The likelihood is that your GP will not carry out a test unless you display symptoms, but by that time it could already be too late! In my own case I was extremely lucky to have a GP who insisted on regular testing. At the age of 69 I was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer but as this was discovered in good time, the operation to remove my prostate was completely successful – which meant that I did not need to undergo invasive radiotherapy or hormone treatment, which others will tell you has had a significant impact on their lives and well-being.
If you belong to a reasonably sized Lodge, the statistics prove that at least a number of your members will be affected at some stage of their lives. It is my desire therefore for as many members to sign up for the testing, which will take place on 17th February 2026 at Mark Masons’ Hall from 10AM – 2PM.
The test is a non-intrusive, small, blood sample, which is taken by fully trained phlebotomists to ensure you are in very safe hands. This is then sent for analysis to specialist centres. If detection occurs early enough, the treatment subsequently offered has a high success rate.
Simply click on the link at the top of this article and follow the easy guidance notes. Please sign up as soon as possible and encourage brethren to join you.
If you bring a Brother, you could save a life!
