WREXHAM PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT GROUP
MONTHLY REPORT – 4TH February 2026
• There was a record turn out at our meeting with in excess of 40 participants which included 5 new faces. Guest of Honour was Paul Sayer and in attendance was our El Presidento, Professor Iqbal Shergill and three new friends John, Sue and Laura from Carden Park Golf Complex who have offered to become our charity partner.
• We have been in touch with the Fulford Trust to discuss hosting a PSA testing event in May/June at Hotel Wrexham and in the autumn a 2nd one at Carden Park. It is incredible to think in such a short space of time the delegation from Carden were able to share their plans on how best to support us and five key events are now firmly in our diary.
• In our plan for 2026 there is an objective to investigate what would be required to enable our Urology Dept at Wrexham to benefit from the use of focal therapy which involves a less invasive way of treating cancer patients. In our plan for 2026 there is an objective to investigate what would be required to enable our Urology Dept at Wrexham to benefit from the use of focal therapy which involves a less invasive way of treating cancer patients. Paul Sayer is the Co-founder of Protat8 and we invited him to present the project he is currently working on involving the use of such techniques such as HIFU and Cryotherapy. He received a standing ovation and Project will be Ted Capstick.
• I was able to share the disappointing news that the project we were helping to sponsor and fund alongside Aberystwyth University has hit stormy waters. The project is aimed at finding improved ways of surfacing the presence of prostate cancer in men. The concept was to replace the PSA blood test with a simplified lateral (covid style) flow test. Immense progress had been made and the lateral flow test prototypes are under review but with NHS cuts things are at a standstill. The Chairman and I are looking to meet asap to review things.
• It was announced with a tinge of sadness that our long serving Treasurer Frank Maddocks will be retiring and at the AGM we will be looking to appoint a replacement.
• To enable us deliver our ambitious plans in 2026 we clearly need to focus and strengthen our fundraising. I have the opportunity to produce a brochure for an Abba Tribute Night I am helping with and looking to sell adverts to local businesses. £50 for half page, £100 for a full page. Please get in touch for more detail. Mark Connolly confirmed his commitment to our fundraising and has a massive project earmarked for 16 May.
• Last and not least was the most important aspect of all and that was the timely reminder of what our support group is all about and that it is the interaction with members who had their chance to share their concerns and worries. Enter centre stage Professor Shergill who was such a calming influence offering advice and support.