Retailers urge more businesses to join collective to raise awareness of prostate cancer

• Five UK retailers have partnered with Prostate Cancer UK to raise awareness of prostate cancer among men
• The ‘Retail Together’ campaign aims to reach one million men in the UK with helpful resources and encourage conversations about prostate cancer
• Businesses including Iceland Foods and The Range call on more retailers to follow suit in support for Prostate Cancer UK

A group of major UK retailers are partnering with charity Prostate Cancer UK this March to inspire one million men to get informed about prostate cancer.

Iceland Foods and the Food Warehouse, The Range, Wilko and Homebase have launched an informative campaign to encourage men and their loved ones to talk about prostate cancer and learn more about their risk of the disease using Prostate Cancer UK’s online Risk Checker, as a part of the ‘Retail Together’ campaign.

The retailers are also calling on other businesses across the sector to join the collective effort and help reach even more men. One in eight men will get prostate cancer in their lifetime. It is the most common cancer in men and is now the most common cancer in the UK, with more than 64,000 men diagnosed each year.

The earlier you find prostate cancer, the easier it is to treat – but in its early stages, the disease often doesn’t have any symptoms. This means that it’s crucial for men to understand their risk, rather than wait for symptoms. That’s why Prostate Cancer UK developed its online Risk Checker. More than four million men have already used the tool to check if they’re at higher risk of the disease and what they can do about it.

In honour of Prostate Cancer Awareness Month this month, Iceland Foods and the Food Warehouse, The Range, Wilko and Homebase will be sharing a suite of information and resources outlining prostate cancer risk factors, key facts and figures, and guidance on how women can start conversations with the men in their lives about the disease.

As well as the resources, shoppers of The Range will be able to find QR codes in-store with more information about prostate cancer and how to check their risk.

The campaign aims to dispel common myths about prostate cancer, including the widespread misconception that men need to have a ‘finger up the bum’, or a Digital Rectal Exam (DRE), to check for the disease. Last year Prostate Cancer UK and the British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS) called for an end to the routine use of the DRE, as it is no longer a useful test for prostate cancer. Today, the first test is a simple PSA blood test.

Laura Kerby, Chief Executive of Prostate Cancer UK said: “Prostate Cancer UK has proudly worked in partnership with the Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation for more than a decade. It’s fantastic to be working with them once again to reach men to help them understand their risk of prostate cancer.

Although prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, too many men are being diagnosed by chance. Having such prominent retailers commit to helping us reach men will make a huge impact.”

Tarsem Dhaliwal, Group Chief Executive of Iceland Foods, Trustee of Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation and PCUK ambassador, said: “Prostate cancer is now the most common cancer in men, yet too many still don’t know their risk or feel able to talk about it. That’s why we’re proud to stand alongside other major retailers this March to help reach millions of men with vital information. By sharing clear, accessible messages in our stores   and on our social channels, we want to encourage men, and those close to them, to take a moment to check their risk using Prostate Cancer UK’s Risk Checker.

We can make a far greater impact when we work together, and I’d encourage other retailers to join us in raising awareness during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. A simple conversation or online check could help save a life.”

Alex Simpkin, Chief Executive Officer at The Range, said: “Supporting Prostate Cancer UK during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month is incredibly important to us at The Range. With one in eight men affected, we have a real opportunity to help more people understand the risk and take action early. By sharing clear information in our stores and encouraging customers to use the charity’s Risk Checker, we hope to spark conversations that could ultimately save lives. We’re proud to stand alongside fellow retailers in this collective effort and we urge more businesses to join us in spreading this vital message even further.”

With so many men affected, and so many still unaware of their personal risk, it is a vital time for more businesses to join the cause and help spread this lifesaving message even further.

To access Prostate Cancer UK’s online Risk Checker, please visit Check your risk in 30 seconds | Prostate Cancer UK