CALLING ALL MEN!

[ConnectRoyCastle]

ARE YOU A MAN WITH LUNG CANCER?

The support groups that we run at the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation are so beneficial and help a great many but we have found that women are far more likely to sign up than their male counterparts.. If you are a man with lung cancer would you be more likely to join an online support group if you knew it would be an all male group?

We wish to be inclusive and for our support to reach as many as possible. If you have any comments about this (positive or negative) please let us know your thoughts.

If it is something you would be keen to take part in then let us know.

Contact

[e-mail]

0333 323 7200 (option 2)

[JanetteR57]

It's interesting the difference between men and women and the belief that women are able to discuss health issues or concerns more openly - maybe due to the volume of health appointments women attend during their lifetime for themselves, children, parents or partners, reading about health issues or other reasons?

Many years ago I presented to a group of resected lung patients which although mixed - mainly constituted men and their partners. They attended a national conference of thoracic surgeons and several have done so since. They keep in touch and offer mutual support.

In recent years I've been involved with a local lottery funded project for older men where they get together several times a week for bowls, snooker, darts, cribbage etc and enjoy a bacon roll, coffee/cuppa and chat. The club is supposed to open for a couple of hours but the men openseveral hours early, set up the room, take part in activities and clean up afterwards to keep company with others as many live alone. They enjoy day trips and play in leagues for all the activities with other clubs in the network. During the pandemic many lost partners or had health issues including cancer but other men have taken them to appointments or listened to their worries. They have operated since the war but decided to start a women's club which meets once a week in the same venue after coach trips/outings/events often included women whether partners, friends or relatives. There is a noticeable difference in the group about digital confidence and those who lost their partners no longer use online banking or devices preferring to talk in person or by phone. This may be worth exploring on the most appropriate way of offering support as online can deter as many as it attracts.

The' Men in Sheds' initiative has shown that men are able to support one another and gain much needed camaraderie and many value that space to chat whilst taking part in an activity so not directly looking at people.

Another local charity for parents of children with disabilities found it was mainly dealing with mums so employed a male activity coordinator, established a 'dads' group' who've taken part in many activities and 'bonded' due to their shared circumstances over the last couple of years. They had about 5 dads involved and now 72! Over time, they've been able to explore and express feelings they've not voiced previously and are in touch between activities.

During a cancer survivorship conference in Europe one year, Prof Mark Lawlor spoke of a European initiative called 'men and cancer' that explored differences in behaviour (avoidance/denial) versus curiosity/advocacy/more persistent help seeking between men and women when experiencing potential cancer symptoms. A useful report was raised on the topic that identified venues, language, imagery can often deter men and venues like football grounds often prove more effective than a clinical setting for health discussions.

Personally I've always been impressed at the number of men involved in cancer research - who've made extremely valuable contributions to the groups they joined and helped reassure and inspire others.

Taking that first step into a group meeting or joining an online group can be scary for everyone yet can help people appreciate they are not alone and can learn from one another as well as experts outside of immediate family in a safe and trusted space.

Hope the initiative prompts lots of responses so many more can be supported in future.

keep up the good work.