Northern Ireland men urged to recognise the symptoms of prostate cancer
Men are being encouraged to recognise the symptoms of prostate cancer as around 1,400 males are diagnosed with the disease in Northern Ireland every year.
Shelley-Marie McDonald, director of therapeutic services at Cancer Focus Northern Ireland, spoke to the News Letter about the disease.
She said: “Raising awareness for all cancers is really important but prostate cancer especially."
With a nursing background, Shelley-Marie has worked closely with many people affected by cancer.
Sometimes the difficulty with prostate cancer is that the signs and symptoms are quite subtle.
“Things like blood in the urine, blood in the semen and a change in how people are urinating over night. Or even just a change in their flow. Men often tell us that they go to the toilet and then nothing comes.
She added: “All these things are quite personal and happen behind closed doors. It’s maybe a bit embarrassing for people to speak with the GP.”
Shelley-Marie said it was important not only to raise awareness about the cancer itself but also about “the signs and symptoms and giving people the confidence" to speak about them.
“You don’t have to face a cancer diagnosis alone, Cancer Focus are here to walk alongside you in that cancer experience. We have a team of cancer support specialists who are experts in understanding the impact that cancer has on people's lives.”
Shelley-Marie explained how receiving an initial cancer diagnosis can affect a person, particularly when they are faced with unfamiliar medical information and difficult decisions.
She said: “When someone is diagnosed with cancer, they are thrown into an experience that is completely alien to them, it is an experience that they have not one asked for.
“They are expected to sit with the clinical team and have in-depth discussions about disease, treatment options, side effects. Often there is lots of medical jargon which can be difficult for people to understand.
“Its no wonder people feel overwhelmed because everything else outside of that consultation room is still going on. The bills need to be paid, the children still need to be taken to school, there is still a commitment to work and relationships.
“I really encourage people to reach out from the very start of their diagnosis.”
Cancer Focus NI provides a variety of therapeutic services, tailoring support to meet each person's needs.
Shelley-Marie said: “We have a variety of services across therapeutic, we really pride ourselves on tailoring our services to suit the individual.
"It isn't one size fits all.”
For prostate cancer the charity provides a specialist support group that runs every eight to nine weeks.
Allowing men to come together and share their experiences, facilitated by cancer support professionals.
“You can come at any point, from diagnosis, treatment and beyond,” Shelley-Marie said.
“We have a variety of guest speakers from the clinical team, maybe talking about PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) monitoring.”
A PSA test is a blood test (pictured) used to help check for prostate conditions, providing healthcare professionals and patients with a better understanding of an individual's prostate health.
While support groups may not be suitable for everyone, Shelley-Marie explained that other options are available.
“We have one-on-one counselling that is unique to them in a protected close space with one other person.
The charity also provides art therapy for "people to have a really tactile experience and explore their emotional wellbeing in a different way", along with workshops on intimacy and sexual relationships after a cancer diagnosis.
Shelley-Marie said: “For those people who are trying to navigate a cancer diagnosis with small children or young adults involved, we have a family support service which will help you to have those really challenging conversations with your loved ones.”
Looking to the future, Shelley-Marie explained that Cancer Focus NI has a vision to open therapeutic cancer support centres across Northern Ireland.
The first centre opened on Enniskillen's High Street in Fermanagh in May 2025.
The main aim of the centres is to create a welcoming environment, offering an alternative to the clinical settings many people have experienced.
Shelley-Marie said: “It’s an exciting opportunity for us as a charity and an amazing opportunity for Northern Ireland to receive cancer support in a different way.”