Watford prostate cancer survivor backs campaign to reduce barriers faced by men with incontinence
Four in five men diagnosed with prostate cancer suffer from urinary incontinence as a result of their disease
A man from Watford who was diagnosed with prostate cancer and suffered from incontinence as a result of his disease backs a campaign to make facilities more inclusive.
Peter Jones, 76, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2018 and has lived with incontinence since his treatment.
Like many other men in his situation, his everyday life was severely impacted by his condition, preventing him to partake in social activities and outings, in turn affecting his mental health.
He said: "My incontinence really affected me mentally, my confidence just went through the floor."
"Every time I went somewhere it became so difficult in terms of what to do with the pad, and in the end, I thought, I really don’t want to be doing this and I don’t want to go out anymore."
"It’s all about dignity and really giving men their self-esteem and confidence back, and businesses need to understand the issue."
New research published by Prostate Cancer UK and hygiene provider phs Group revealed that men living with urinary incontinence, especially those who have undergone prostate cancer treatment, are significantly limiting their daily activities and missing major life events due to inadequate public facilities.
The study surveyed 250 incontinent men and found that 79% avoid day-to-day activities due to fears of leaking and the lack of sanitary bins for disposing of used incontinence products.
Jones's sentiments reflect the broader impact on social activities, with 71% of men missing out on seeing friends and family, 37% avoiding dining out, and 34% skipping live sports.
Family life also suffers, with 13% missing parents' evenings and 17% unable to take their children to school.
Urinary incontinence affects up to 65% of men treated for prostate cancer, with some experiencing temporary symptoms and others facing lifelong challenges.
This condition also impacts professional life, with 25% of the surveyed men missing work due to incontinence. Furthermore, the research highlights the profound mental health effects, with 58% reporting a decline due to missing significant events like birthdays, job interviews, weddings, and funerals.
Amy Rylance, Assistant Director of Health and Improvement at Prostate Cancer UK, said: "One in three men over 65 are estimated to live with urinary incontinence."
"It’s a really common problem, but it’s also one that carries a lot of taboo. With the right facilities, we can address this and help men live full and active lives."
"What makes this tricky is that in its early stages, prostate cancer often doesn’t have any symptoms. Awareness and support facilities are crucial for early detection and ensuring quality of life post-treatment."
In response to these findings, Prostate Cancer UK and phs Group have introduced the Bog Standard Charter, which sets guidelines for supporting men with incontinence.
The Charter includes three tiers:
Bronze: Installation of Male Incontinence Bins for hygienic disposal.
Silver: Addition of vending machines providing incontinence products.
Gold: Support for initiatives raising awareness about prostate cancer and incontinence.