Stephen Fry urges prostate cancer patients to sign up to 'groundbreaking' data project which will improve treatment of the deadly disease By Shaun Wooller Published: 01:04, 23 July 2024 | Updated: 01:04, 23 July 2024 e-mail View comments Actor and broadcaster Stephen Fry is urging prostate cancer patients to sign up for a major new research initiative that could save thousands of lives. The NHS has partnered with Prostate Cancer Research to give scientists access to health data in a bid to transform patient care and treatment of the disease. The charity's Prostate Progress project is the first to be selected to take part in NHS England's Data for Research and Development Programme.
The initiative will provide 'safe and secure' access to the clinical data of prostate cancer patients who agree to take part, alongside data the patients directly input - such as how they are feeling and the real-life effects of their cancer and its treatment. Researchers hope to gain unique insights into prostate cancer by combining the two sets of data to understand more about the disease, develop new treatments and tests to improve diagnosis, monitor the safety of treatments, and plan new NHS services. Stephen Fry, 66, who has previously had prostate cancer surgery, is keen to encourage others living with a diagnosis to get involved with the project The blue ribbon represents prostate cancer awareness.
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