HEALTH chiefs have voiced their backing for initiatives to tackle prostate cancer in the borough.

Sue Longden, assistant director of public health presented a report on the disease to members of the Health and Wellbeing Committee yesterday.

The document identified areas of the borough where diagnoses rates are lower than expected, which could indicate that men are not reporting symptoms.

The report suggests targeting resources at those places, which include Rumworth, Kearsley and Farnworth, as well as promoting national and local campaigns.

Michael Smith, chief officer for Bolton GP federation, said the organisation was “quite happy to engage” and, as well as general practice, was also looking at how to support different organisations and campaigns running throughout the year.

Darren Knight of CVS Bolton said the charitable company had made contact with a local prostate cancer group and was open to working with others to raise awareness of issues surrounding the disease.” The meeting was told that more men now die of prostate cancer than women die of breast cancer.