Chai reports 63 per cent increase in prostate cancer appointments in the last five years

Chai’s chief executive Victoria Portnoi said: “Prostate Cancer Awareness Month is an important reminder of just how many families it affects. At Chai, we are seeing more men come to us, and many are living not only with a diagnosis, but with the long-term impact of treatment. Hormone therapy, for example, can be the equivalent of going through the menopause, bringing side effects such as hot flushes, fatigue, low mood and changes in confidence and identity. These are experiences many men are unprepared for.”

She added: “With BRCA gene mutations more common in people of Jewish ancestry, some men may face a higher inherited risk, which makes awareness and early support especially important within our community. Through Chai’s confidential services across the UK, including counselling, family support, practical advice, complementary therapies and specialist physiotherapy, we support men at every stage, helping them manage both the physical and emotional impact of prostate cancer.”

Chai CEO Victoria Portnoi (Photo: Chai Cancer Care)[Missing Credit]

Chai’s figures also show a shift in the demographic of clients seeking support. From February 2019 to January 2024, the average age of men supported by Chai remained consistently between 77 and 78. In February 2024 to January 2025, it fell to 75, before dropping again to 72 in the past year. This, said the charity, reflected growing awareness of the signs of prostate cancer, leading to earlier detection.

Joe, who is in his fifties, was diagnosed with prostate cancer after a routine health check in 2024.

Recalling receiving his diagnosis, he said: “It was a shock. I genuinely thought I would go in, and they would say everything was fine.”

After considering treatment options, he underwent surgery. “Recovery was harder than I expected,” said Joe, who struggled with mobility, pain and gout.

He approached Chai, where he had scar tissue massage therapy to relieve tension in the prostate area and he also joined the men’s support group.

“That was a turning point,” he said. “You walk in with a lot of unanswered questions, and suddenly, you are in a room with people who truly understand. It’s a very safe, welcoming space. As soon as you walk through the door, you feel like it is OK to be open. It was incredibly helpful to speak to men who had been on this journey.”

In recent years, Chai has expanded its range of services for people affected by prostate cancer to include counselling, pelvic health support and post-surgery physiotherapy to aid recovery and complementary therapies.

It also runs dedicated men’s support groups and offers practical help, including dietary advice, benefits and entitlements guidance. Clients can also access couples counselling and wellbeing activities, which encompass music and art workshops.

Former boxing inspector Alan Alster, 84, a member of the Beth Hamidrash Hagadol Synagogue in Leeds, sought Chai’s support after being diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2024.

Alan, who has worked with world-famous boxers, including Mike Tyson and Tommy Fury, said the news of his diagnosis had been “a blow”.

Alan Alster (Photo: courtesy)[Missing Credit]

“I am a person who loves life. Before all this, I was probably out more than most teenagers. Jazz and blues clubs in the evenings, lots of dinners with friends – that was just my way of living. When you hear the word ‘cancer’, you do worry that your whole way of life might change.”

Alan, who had 20 radiotherapy sessions, recalled the physical and mental impact of subsequent hormone treatment. “I had all the symptoms of a woman going through the menopause – hot flushes, brain fog – and I found that very hard to deal with.”

He said his treatment led to him losing all the hair on his body. “I used to have a hairy chest. Suddenly, it was gone. Those physical changes really affect you psychologically.”

After a friend recommended Chai, Alan received reflexology and reiki from the charity. He said: “The therapies relax you and calm you, which helps you cope with everything else. [Chai] also keep track of my physical health. They phone me regularly to check how I’m doing, ask about tests and treatments, and they genuinely listen. It’s not someone just ticking boxes on a form; you can tell the interest is real.”

Grandfather Stephen Loofe, 68, a member of Whitefield Hebrew Congregation in Manchester, was given a diagnosis of prostate cancer in October 2024.

Stephen Loofe (Photo: courtesy)[Missing Credit]

“It was stressful even though I tried not to let it be. You put on a brave face for your family. You don’t want to worry them more than they already are.”

The father of three went to Chai’s centre in Manchester for support, where he attended mindfulness sessions and received counselling.

“Making that first call is the hardest part, but I’m really glad I did. It was a release. I could talk freely, without judgement and without having to cushion anyone else’s feelings. That’s the difference. With family, you’re always protecting them. Here, I didn’t have to.”

PROSTATE CANCER – WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR

Prostate cancer often has no symptoms at first. It usually starts to grow on the outer part of the prostate. This means it does not press on the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the penis (the urethra) and cause symptoms until the cancer has grown or spread.

If this happens, it can cause changes to the way you pee, such as:

•  finding it difficult to start peeing or straining to pee
•  having a weak flow of urine
•  “stop start” peeing
•  needing to pee urgently or often, or both
•  feeling like you still need to pee when you have just finished
•  peeing during the night

Other symptoms can include:

•  erectile dysfunction (being unable to get or keep an erection)
•  blood in your urine or blood in your semen
•  lower back pain and losing weight without trying to (these may be symptoms of advanced prostate cancer)

source: nhs.uk/conditions/prostate-cancer/symptoms/

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For more information on Chai’s services, go to chaicancercare.org or click here

To register your interest in a BRCA test, go to nhsjewishbrcaprogramme.org.uk and scroll down, or click here. In the meantime, you can also speak to your GP about getting tested for BRCA and prostate cancer