Cancer Black Care Oral Evidence presentation to the Science and Technology Committee at the House of Commons on the 21 June 2000, by Mr Frank Chinegwundoh, Consultant Urologist at St Barts Hospital, and Chairman of Cancer Black Care, through Isaac Dweben, Chief Executive of Cancer Black Care.

  I apologise for not appearing in person before you. I am at the British Association of Urologists' annual meeting in Birmingham. As you may be aware, NHS consultants are required to achieve a requisite number of education "credits" which will go towards revalidation. I have therefore asked Isaac Dweben, Chief Executive of Cancer Black Care to deliver my address.

  Cancer Black Care aims to address the cultural and emotional needs of people affected by cancer as well as their carers, families and friends. We intend to achieve this by leading and influencing educational programmes relating to cancer prevention, treatment and palliative care and through discussion, debate and advocacy in relation to issues concerned with quality of life of those undergoing or contemplating treatment. By doing so, we hope to reduce the stigma and fear often associated with cancer.

  Unpublished research done by me at Barts hospital reveals that there is a high incidence of prostate cancer in black men.

  Research evidence by Professor Irene Higginson called "Care in their last year of life—A comparison of the experience of the first generation black Caribbeans with the local white population in Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham" reveals that black cancer patients do not receive fair and equal treatment.

  I am very concerned about the difficulty in getting funding for research into prostate cancer and in particular the link between race and prostate cancer. I speak in my capacity as a NHS Consultant, a Senior Lecturer with a higher research degree and as Chairperson of Cancer Black Care. I and others have put together proposals over the past four years all of which have not been funded. For example:

—  1996: Two submissions to Veena Bahl, Advisor on ethnic minority health, Department of Health, on awareness of prostate disorders in African-Caribbean men. Not Funded.

—  1997: The impact of screening for prostate cancer in East London. Submitted to NHS Executive North Thames Research and Development—ie A bid for improving health among ethnic minority populations. Not Funded.

—  1998: Beliefs and attitudes of African Caribbean men relating to prostate cancer. Bid submitted to the National Lotteries Charities Board, Health and Social Research programme theme. Not Funded.

—  1998: The 5-alpha reductase gene and its relationship to prostate cancer. Submitted to The Royal College of Surgeons of England. Not Funded

—  1999: Prostate Cancer amongst African Caribbean men in the UK. Comparative study of incidence, clinical presentation and access to health care. Submitted to NHS Executive South West—Research and Development Directorate. A multicentre study with centres across London and Bristol. Not Funded.

  All the above applications involved at least one academic institution with good research records. The last application involved urologists from across London and Bristol and epidemiologists. We are bound by our interest in the ethnic differences in prostate cancer. A tremendous amount of time goes into these applications. With one exception, there was no feedback. I feel that proper feedback is the least that the awarding body can do. "We are sorry that, there were so many applications for limited funds and you were unsuccessful", is wholly inadequate.

  It would appear that without a "proven track record" and publication in the area of interest, funding will not be forthcoming. Yet how does one acquire a track record without funding. It is difficult not to draw the conclusions that funding committees fund those whom they know and secondly prostate cancer is not a "sexy" subject for funding and adding an ethnic dimension to prostate cancer . . . Well I will leave it at that.

  We proposed that the committee should fund some themes of research in cancer care amongst the black and ethnic minority community and that Cancer Black Care should play a leading role in this research drives.