Join Us on 29th November at the Agora clinic for a Free Men’s Health Screening
Each year, November carries the moustache-symbol of Movember, a campaign spotlighting men’s health. At the Agora clinic in Brighton, we’re stepping up and offering men a free health awareness morning, aimed at checking, educating and empowering men so that we can prevent health issues further down the line. At the Agora we are not just here to deal with fertility and reproductive health, we want to ensure men enjoy a lifetime of wellbeing.
Why we’re doing this:
Most people know the Agora as a fertility clinic that helps create families, But we want to go a step further and help men who are Dads as well as those who are not, to understand their health risks and take steps to prevent some of the major health threats for men in the UK which include prostate cancer, testicular cancer, cardiovascular disease and poor mental health. Catching issues early, getting support and modifying lifestyle can make a huge difference.
Key statistics you should know:
- Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in UK men. Around 55,300 new cases each year (UK, 2017-19).
- It is estimated that about 1 in 8 men in the UK will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime.
- In the UK, testicular cancer is relatively rare but is the most common cancer in young men (age 15-35) with very good survival if picked up early.
- Cardiovascular disease remains a major killer of men. In the UK, around one in eight men die from coronary heart disease.
- Men are far more likely than women to die by suicide (around three in four suicides are male).
What the morning will involve:
- Two of our experienced consultants, Dr Carole Gilling-Smith and Dr Cheryl Lambe will be giving up their time for free.
- They will be offering you a confidential 15-minute chat to cover your risk factors (age, family history, symptoms), lifestyle, diet and exercise habits.
- You will be offered on the spot checks for weight/body mass index (BMI), blood pressure and a basic diabetes urine screen.
- We will advise you if you are at increased risk of developing prostate cancer and suggest a PSA blood test (a prostate cancer screening test). You can ask your GP for this test or chose to do this at the Agora (if you choose to do this test with us, you will be charged £75 to cover the lab charge. There will be no other charges made).
- You will leave knowing how to check your testicles for suspicious lumps and bumps and changes that could signal testicular cancer.
- A dietician will be on hand to advise on practical healthy eating to optimise your heart and mental health
- We will also give you lifestyle advice on exercise, quitting smoking and moderating alcohol as all these can impact your risk of heart disease, some cancers and overall wellbeing.
Why this matters:
Dr Carole Gilling-Smith, our CEO and Medical Director, is passionate about raising awareness and preventing disease in men. Her husband was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer at the age of 54 after his GP refused to give him a PSA test two years earlier. He has endured surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy and now lives with the long-term consequences of not just the cancer, but the effects of the treatment he had. All of these could have been avoided by earlier detection and a simple PSA blood test.
How to sign up:
- Date: Saturday 29 November
- Time: 09:00–13:00
- Location: The Agora Clinic, 138 Dyke Road, Brighton BN1 5PA (entrance on Chatsworth Road)
- Drop-in welcome. Booking encouraged: use the link on our website to pick a 30-minute slot and avoid waiting.
- PSA test optional (lab charge of £75 will apply). All other checks free.
- Confidential, informal, no pressure. A safe space to ask questions and act.
- Bring along your partner or friend if you like; but the focus is on men’s health so feel free to come alone.
Final word:
Men often leave their health to chance. They wait, ignore symptoms and assume everything will be fine or feel worried about making a fuss over nothing. But many of the risks, especially heart disease and early-stage cancers are so preventable or modifiable if caught in time. At the Agora, we believe every man deserves the best chance of a long, healthy, fulfilling life. We hope you’ll join us this Movember and take the step up to change your future.
