FIFTEEN partners of men who have prostate cancer attended the first meeting of the newly-formed Prostate Cancer Partner Group.

The meeting in November was held in the café at Perdiswell Leisure Centre, Worcester.

It was an opportunity for the partners to break the ice and chat in a relaxed setting about their personal experiences of living with someone with prostate cancer.

Gwyn Scolari, whose partner has been treated for prostate cancer, said: "I was really keen to come to the meeting.

"Everyone was so friendly and it quickly became obvious that we all would benefit from meeting other people in the same position.

"It’s great to swap stories but I think the group is going to be a place where we learn from each other too.”

The group has been launched through the efforts of Alison Hanson and Andrea Ferns.

Their husbands are both receiving prostate cancer treatment and they were introduced through the Kidderminster and Worcestershire Prostate Cancer Support Group.

Alison said: “It was definitely a success.

"There was lots of chatter about the issues surrounding prostate cancer for partners but also socialising which was lovely.

"I’m really looking forward to the next meeting."

The second meeting is on Friday, February 23 at Perdiswell Leisure Centre, Bilford Road.

It runs from 11am until 12 noon and there will be coffee, cake and chatter.

Partners of those with prostate cancer can just turn up and drop in.

For more information about the group, email alison.hanson@live.co.uk.

For details about the Kidderminster and Worcestershire Prostate Cancer Support Group, check out the website at www.kwpcsg.co.uk.

Prostate Cancer UK says one in eight will get prostate cancer and those over 50, black or whose dad or brother had it are at even higher risk.

The charity adds prostate cancer is not always life-threatening but when it is the earlier people catch it the more likely it is to be cured.

The prostate is a gland, usually the size and shape of a walnut, and grows bigger as people get older. 

The most common prostate problems are an enlarged prostate, prostatitis and prostate cancer.

For more details, visit prostatecanceruk.org.