A new monthly prostate cancer support group in Warrington launches in June, aiming to bring men together with advice, companionship, and a safe space—especially for those newly diagnosed.
For men facing prostate cancer, finding other people who truly understand can be as important as treatment itself.
A new support group is launching in Warrington for men living with prostate cancer. created by two local residents who know what it means to hear devastating news and then search for steadier ground.. Both organisers are living with metastatic prostate cancer. and they say the area’s nearest peer support options are around 30 miles away—far enough to make regular attendance difficult for many men.
The new Warrington group will meet on the first Monday of each month at Alford Sports & Social Club on Manchester Road. with the first gathering scheduled for June 1.. Sessions run from 6.30pm to 8.30pm. offering a structured but welcoming chance to talk. ask questions. and spend time with others who understand the realities of diagnosis. aggressive treatment. and life afterwards.
Tony Collier. from Thelwall. and Paul Whittaker. from Appleton Thorn. both described a desire for a safe and relaxed setting where men can share experiences without feeling judged or hurried.. Mr Whittaker said he wanted a space particularly helpful for those who are newly diagnosed—when questions pile up quickly and people can feel isolated even around family and friends.. “As both of us have already walked the path of hearing the words. ‘you’ve got cancer. ’ I wanted to help others as they come to terms with living well with cancer. ” he said.
Mr Whittaker was diagnosed in 2025 at the age of 55.. Mr Collier was diagnosed at 60 after being told he may only have two years to live. and he now says he is nine years into his cancer journey.. Beyond peer support. Mr Collier also plays an active role in the wider community of prostate cancer groups; he is vice-chair and trustee of Tackle Prostate Cancer. the national federation that connects support organisations.
The group’s timing is personal as well as practical.. Mr Collier first noticed symptoms in early 2017 while training for the Comrades ultra-marathon.. He described feeling a groin strain in February. seeking medical advice after it worsened. and being told within 36 hours that he had terminal prostate cancer.. He later learned that his illness may have been developing for around a decade before symptoms became noticeable.. That kind of detail matters because it helps explain why people experience warning signs differently—and why peer support can fill gaps that appointments sometimes leave behind.
Why local support can change the first months after diagnosis
Support groups are often discussed as “optional extras. ” but for many people they quickly become part of how a diagnosis is processed.. When someone is newly diagnosed. there is a narrow window where fear. confusion. and the pressure to “stay strong” can crowd out practical thinking.. A dedicated prostate cancer support group gives men a place to ask the questions they may not know how to raise in a clinic. and a chance to hear how others adjusted to treatment plans. side effects. and daily life.
What the Warrington group offers—and who it’s for
The Warrington group is built around companionship as much as information.. The organisers say they expect demand to be considerable because the nearest peer groups are about 30 miles away. meaning travel can be a barrier during emotionally exhausting periods.. For men who are still working, caring for family, or managing demanding treatment schedules, even “reasonable” distances can become unrealistic.
The organisers also say the group will be supported through national lottery funding available for setting up new groups across the North. helping make monthly meetings sustainable rather than short-lived.. Mr Collier added that he has built “a huge amount of knowledge” over years living with terminal prostate cancer. and that experience is exactly what he hopes to share—without pretending the journey is the same for everyone.
Anyone seeking more information or wishing to attend can contact the organisers at warringtonprostate@gmail.com.. The goal. they say. is for the group to become a vital resource in the area as men navigate life after a prostate cancer diagnosis—especially those who need to feel less alone while they take in what treatment and the future may involve.
The wider takeaway from Misryoum is clear: when support is local. consistent. and led by people who have lived the reality. it can reduce loneliness and help turn a diagnosis from an isolating event into something faced with community.. And as more men look online for answers. the chance to sit in a room with others who understand can offer something no search result can replace.