Celebrity male at women's forum
by Abena Bailey
(Gazette 30/5/2007)

Guest speaker EastEnder Rudolph Walker (centre) with left to right: Ros Taylor, Linda Haye, Ralph Thornberry, Rudolph, Jane Hogg and Dr Vindelyn Smith-Hillman.

The Caribbean Women's Equality and Diversity Forum (CDEWF) welcomed EastEnders' Rudolph Walker as a special guest at their conference on cancer awareness and support.

The actor, who plays Patrick Truman, was joined by St Francis Hospice medical director Ros Taylor, CWEDF chair Linda Haye, Shendish Manor MD, Ralph Thornberry and conference chair, former Dacorum Mayor, Jane Hogg.
The conference, held at Shendish Manor, on Saturday, May 12, aimed to create an action plan to draw attention to the problems cancer sufferers have and to raise awareness of the available support.
It included two workshops, held by Dr Vindelyn Smith-Hillman of C WEDF -one on prostate cancer and the other on breast cancer.
They discussed how a greater awareness of the symptoms of prostate cancer was needed in the area, especially among Afro Caribbean men, who are more susceptible to it.

One problem that came up was men's reluctance to discuss these types of medical problems and how this should be addressed. It was noted that there was a shortage in parts of Hertfordshire of support groups and that well-man clinics should be encouraged in workplaces for male staff to pick up early signs.

Linda Haye said: "If we have helped to draw attention to the problems and enabled patients, their carers and their families to become more aware of the available support, then our objective has been achieved."
The conference concluded that greater efforts were necessary to improve awareness of the symptoms, early diagnosis and treatment within the county.
They agreed that particular attention should be given to ethnic minorities and efforts needed to be made to publicise available support.
A follow up conference has been planned for later in the year to discuss other cancers while exploring the latest diagnostic techniques and treatments.