SARAH-KATE TEMPLETON is to be congratulated for bringing the debate on prostate cancer spending into the open (Men lose out in battle for cancer cash, News, last week). In September 2004, aged 56, I was found by a PSA test to have aggressive locally advanced prostate cancer. I had absolutely no symptoms.

While my subsequent clinical treatment has been very good, it rapidly became obvious that the manner in which a woman with breast cancer is “processed” is superior in most areas.

I am left with a cast-iron belief that expediency dictates government policy. I just do not understand why the cancer charities have such an imbalance in spending. If it is because of ring-fenced donations, then surely they should use their best efforts to publicise the lack of funding for prostate cancer.

Rosie Winterton may claim gender is not a factor in decisions on cancer funding but during the last election Labour announced an extra £25m for speeding up breast cancer treatment.

The one glimmer of hope is that Patricia Hewitt is such a firm proponent of positive discrimination, so I am sure she will approve of the fact that, in an attempt to widen the debate, I’ve passed on my concerns to the Equal Opportunities Commission.

Tim Staples
Brighton, Sussex


FIGHTING FOR AIR: Breast and prostate cancer (two “high-profile” diseases) attract a large proportion of all research funding and are accordingly eminently treatable, with the majority of treated individuals surviving.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the UK and chronic obstructive airways disease (encompassing emphysema) is set to become the leading cause of death worldwide by 2020. Respiratory disease accounts for less than 5% of all medical research funding.

There are currently no screening tests for either condition mentioned and prognosis remains poor. There is, indeed, bias in medical research funding, but it is not an issue of gender, but between disease states and what is considered to be “sexy” to support and be nominally associated with.

Dr David Simcock
Respiratory Research Fellow, London NW3


PROSTATE MATTERS: It is excellent that women have been able to generate awareness and champion the cause of breast cancer. They have one advantage — few people know where and how important the prostate is to our wellbeing.

You mentioned the PSA test which is a simple, low-cost blood test. It is far from perfect but it is the best we have at present and men should be encouraged to have it until something better comes along. We are told there is no need for a test, then find the disease is at an advanced stage and not curable.

Jim Stansfeld
Chairman, PCaSO Prostate Cancer Network

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