The Simple Truth is that Early Diagnosis saves lives!!!

Towards the end of September, Unite South West launched their Prostate Awareness Campaign. With the support of the National Disabled Members Committee a motion was brought to the Unite National Disabled Members Conference calling for the Prostate Awareness Campaign to be rolled out across the Regions and Nations of Unite.

Kevin Daws at the launch of the Unite South West Prostate Awareness Campaign

Below is the speech by Kevin Daws who moved the motion:

Good Afternoon Conference, let me start by saying that when I use the term man or men I’m referring to anyone born with a prostate.

You may ask why are we launching this campaign today?

Firstly, I was inspired by the campaign launch that took place in North East, Yorkshire and Humberside 2 to 3 years ago and I was very disappointed when that campaign was not rolled out across all of our nations and regions.

The motion today seeks to rectify this and I hope that it will lead to launch events in each region and nation.

Secondly, let me share a few facts with you:

• In the UK one man dies of prostate cancer every 45 minutes.

• It is the most common cancer in men and affects about 1 in 8 men.

• However, 1 in 4 black men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer.

• Approximately 129 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in the UK EVERY DAY

The risks for older men and those with a family history of prostate cancer are higher.

My fellow National Disabled Committee Member, Carl Robinson, who was going to move this motion today would have spoken about a number of his friends and family that have been diagnosed with prostate cancer and the impact that that has had on them and their families. I’m sorry that he could not be here to share his experiences.

At the launch of the South West’s Prostate Awareness Campaign last month we were told that if there is a history of breast cancer in a family then the men in that family have a higher risk of being diagnosed with Prostate Cancer.

Despite the fact that this is the most common cancer in men and the fact that 1 man is dying every 45 minutes from Prostate Cancer in the UK there is NO Prostate Cancer Screening Programme – this is a national disgrace!

However, in my experience, if you request a PSA test for Prostate Cancer then your GP will resist or reject that request.

Let me tell you about my experience. Due to my age I have, what I call an annual MOT, at my GPs where they weigh me, take my blood pressure; test a urine sample and take 2 lots of blood from you for a variety of tests.

So well in advance of last year’s MOT I requested that an additional blood sample was taken for a PSA test. When I attended my MOT, 2 to 3 months after my request, I was told that my request had not been processed or approved.

I then had to chase it up with my GP practice and a Doctor phoned me and spent the best part of an hour trying to persuade me that I did not need a PSA test; that the PSA test was not very reliable and could be misleading.

I told the GP that I was aware that the PSA was not the most accurate and that I would be happy for him to refer me for an MRI scan which I understood was very accurate.

The GP then protest about the fact that the MRI test was very expensive and that they could not afford to refer me.

I challenged the GP by saying that if cost was the major concern then they could have saved money by taking an extra blood sample at my MOT for the PSA test. I also pointed out that the cost of his time for making this phone call far outweighed the cost of any PSA test.

The GP’s final line of attack was to inform me that if the PSA showed any negative results then, pardon the expression, it would have to be followed by the finger up the bum test.

To his surprise I responded by that was absolutely fine with me and the GP then agreed to me having a PSA Test

I’m sharing my story with you to say to you Do not take NO for an answer from your GP

Let me share one final fact with you. In the South West 24% of men diagnosed with Prostate Cancer are diagnosed with stage 4 disease which reduces the treatment options and the treatments have much harsher side effects.

To date, I have not been diagnosed with Prostate Cancer but the Simple Truth is that Early Diagnosis saves lives!!!

Conference please go back to your regions and nations and organise your launch events for the Prostate Awareness Campaign. If I can help, let me know

Please support this motion

Dean Collins the Unite Executive Council member representing Disabled Members spoke in support of the motion, here is his speech:

Dean Collins, Unite Executive Council member representing Disabled Members

Chair, conference, Dean Collins EC Member for Disabled Members

I ask you today to support this motion on prostate cancer, a disease that affects thousands of men, their families and loved ones across our country.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting men. Yet too many remain unaware of the risks, feel embarrassed to discuss their health, or seek medical advice too late.

We must move beyond awareness and take meaningful action.

No man should feel ashamed to speak about his health, or lack the information needed to make informed decisions. Age, family history and ethnicity can influence risk, so we must ensure that awareness reaches the communities that need it most.

I call for stronger awareness campaigns, better access to information and appropriate testing, timely diagnosis, and improved support for men living with prostate cancer.

We must challenge the stigma, encourage men to seek medical advice, and ensure continued investment in research, effective treatments and compassionate care.

Colleagues, this motion must be more than words on paper. It must lead to practical action that improves awareness, promotes earlier diagnosis and ensures that no man is disadvantaged by his background or lack of information.

Let us break the silence surrounding prostate cancer and encourage men to take their health seriously.

By supporting this motion, we can help turn awareness into action, improve outcomes and give families hope. Every man deserves timely care, effective treatment and the best possible chance of survival.

Conference I call you to support this motion.

The motion was passed unanimously

The wording of the motion is below:

PROSTATE CANCER

This Conference welcomes the potential breakthrough in testing for prostate cancer announced in April 2025: a new saliva-based test.

Early evidence suggests that this at-home test may predict prostate cancer risk more effectively than the current PSA blood test.

Conference welcomes all progress that increases the identification of prostate cancer.

Earlier diagnosis remains essential to improving outcomes and saving lives.

This Conference notes that:

•        1 in 8 people born with a prostate will develop prostate cancer.

•        1 in 4 Black people born with a prostate will develop prostate cancer.

One person dies from prostate cancer every 45 minutes in the UK.

Prostate cancer mainly affects people over the age of 50 who were born with a prostate.

•      Having a family history of prostate cancer increases risk by 2 to 4 times.

•      Prostate cancer is the most common cancer affecting people born with a prostate in the UK.

•      For the purposes of this motion, the term “those at risk” refers to people born with a prostate, including trans women and non-binary people within this group.

This Conference believes and recognises that:

•      Early diagnosis saves lives.

•      Awareness of prostate cancer among those at risk is far too low, and this must change.

•      Public figures and role models, such as Sir Chris Hoy, who have spoken openly about their diagnosis, play a vital role in raising awareness.

•      Prostate cancer has a significant impact on families, partners and wider support networks.

•      The new legal position that testing is not automatic makes awareness and voluntary uptake even more important.

This Conference calls on the National Disabled Members Committee to encourage and work with the National BAEM Committee the Executive Council and Unite Departments to:

•      Roll out the Prostate Cancer Awareness Campaign, in partnership with Prostate Cancer UK, across all Unite Regions and Nations which will also highlight the huge impact on the family and partners of those diagnosed with Prostate Cancer

•      To organise Prostate Cancer Awareness Campaign launch events in all Unite Regions and Nations in partnership with the respective Disabled Members Committee

•      Promote the Unite Prostate Cancer Toolkit and provide training for reps on how to negotiate a Prostate Cancer Awareness Campaign in every workplace along with persuading the employer to sign the Prostate Cancer Protocol

•      Actively promote the widespread use of the Prostate Cancer UK 30 Second Checker

•      Organise events to Celebrate Men’s Health Day on 19th November each year

•      Report this initiative to both the TUC Disabled Workers Committee and the TUC General Council to encourage other unions to join us in promoting awareness of Prostate Cancer