Speaker Evening

Urologist Professor Alan McNeill was the speaker at the Rotary Club of South Queensferry on Thursday 1st September. Prostate health was the subject and in an interesting , well illustrated presentation the Professor emphasised the need to change awareness of prostate problems among men even in early middle age. Around half of men will suffer prostate problems at some time and of these between one-in-eight and one-in-twelve will develop prostate cancer. Like many conditions, an ageing population means that prostate problems are more common, though there is still some reluctance to report symptoms. To help solve this problem and raise funding for public awareness and treatment of prostate conditions, Professor McNeill set up the charity Prostate Scotland ten years ago. Benign prostate conditions may be treated by medical means, higher risk and cancerous conditions can be treated by radiotherapy or surgery. Increasingly less invasive keyhole surgery is being used and this year Professor McNeill will have removed 160 prostates. The outlook is not all bleak. 80% of men with prostate cancer survive five years or more and with increased public awareness and technical advances such as surgical robots, this is likely to improve.

Professor McNeill's talk naturally prompted many questions from the floor. He was introduced by Grainger Falconer and Eric Proven proposed the vote of thanks.

To find out more about prostate health, visit: www.prostatescotland.org.uk