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t is not uncommon for patients and Isupporters to mention the need for some CHARITY consolidation of the plethora of charities involved in raising funds for research into disease. news

Hopefully, the newly arranged merger between Prostate UK and the Prostate Q Introducing a new charity: Prostate Action Cancer Research Foundation will help to reduce sometimes counterproductive rivalry and, more importantly, result in A new ‘Prostate Action’ charity has lower overheads as well as greater been created by the merger of Prostate fundraising capacity. Both existing charities UK and the Research have broadly similar aims, namely to support research into prostate disease. Foundation, to provide a more holistic However, Prostate UK has encompassed approach to fundraising and research prostate cancer, benign prostatic into prostate disease. hyperplasia (BPH) and prostatitis, while the Prostate Cancer Research Foundation ROGER KIRBY, The Prostate Centre, has focused exclusively on malignant disease. In fact, all three conditions are so intertwined that a more holistic approach, both in fundraising and research, seems to make good sense, in close collaboration with The particularly since it gives Prostate Action Foundation, which has just initiated a a wider remit than that of The Prostate structured programme of training in robotic Cancer Charity. surgery. The popular ABC classes in prostate disease run by Prostate UK, which have The existing team from the Prostate Cancer educated over 1000 GPs and nurse Research Foundation will soon be moving practitioners, are set to continue. Since into the offices in Putney owned by GPs are now in control of commissioning Prostate UK, and the new Board of 12 care for their patients in , directors will be chaired by Christopher providing them with key information Adams. It is anticipated that the new about prostate cancer, BPH and prostatitis Prostate Action charity should be able to is now a priority. raise funds well in excess of £2 million per annum and, of course, any assistance Since the mid 1990s when Prostate UK that the urological community is able (formerly Prostate Research Campaign to offer will be much appreciated. UK) and the Prostate Cancer Research Simply mentioning the work of the Foundation were set up, much has charity to patients with prostate or been achieved, not only by them, but other urological problems would be of also by The Prostate Cancer Charity. WEBSITES considerable benefit. However, much remains to be done to improve the diagnosis and management G Prostate UK Training and education will remain of all types and stages of prostate http://www.prostateuk.org important parts of the mission of Prostate disease. We hope that the rationalisation G Prostate Cancer Research Action. Sending trainees and established that stems from this merger will help Foundation consultants abroad to learn laparoscopic to facilitate this process and increase http://www.thepcrf.org.uk and robotic surgical skills has reaped the resources available to support G The Prostate Cancer Charity valuable rewards in the past, and we plan research and education in these important http://prostate-cancer.org.uk to continue to fund these visits, working disease areas.

TRENDS IN UROLOGY & MEN’S HEALTH DECEMBER 2010 www.trendsinurology.com