Prostate Cancer UK is urging for sanitary bins to be added in men’s public toilets. The charity contends that men experiencing incontinence following treatment should feel more comfortable using sanitary pads.

Prostate Cancer UK is advocating for the installation of sanitary bins in men’s public restrooms. The organization believes that men dealing with incontinence as a result of treatment should have the option to use sanitary pads comfortably.

Joe Appiah, an athlete and former semi-professional footballer who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2021, appeared on ITV’s Good Morning Britain today (March 5) to discuss the challenges linked to male incontinence. He shared that the presence of disposal bins would have given him greater confidence to go out, especially while managing incontinence after his cancer diagnosis.

Advocates emphasize the lack of awareness and support for male incontinence compared to women’s health issues. Joe supports movements like the Dispose With Dignity campaign aimed at addressing this disparity, as reported by the Mirror.

“For me, and many men, there are numerous side effects that accompany treatment,” he noted. “Most people assume that once you’ve had your cancer treated, that’s the end of it.”

Prostate Cancer UK reports that in the UK, approximately one in eight men will develop prostate cancer during their lifetime. It remains the most prevalent cancer amongst UK men.

Reflecting on how the diagnosis affected him at the time, Joe revealed the “embarrassment” he frequently experienced. “Initially, after my operation, because of the incontinence, I was afraid to go out.

“One time I went out and had an accident. As a man, in his fifties, and a man who is a sportsperson, one minute I was breaking world records, the next I was weeing myself. That’s so embarrassing. It hit the core of who I am as a man.

“I’m the type of person who likes to take on a challenge and resolve issues, but as most men, we tend to sit back and suffer in silence. For me, I’m lucky that my one improved, but there are lots of men out there that it may have taken years, it may be forever – some people are living with catheters for the rest of their lives. And that is really hard as a man to take.”

Prostate Cancer UK reports its ‘Boys Need Bins’ campaign has strived to highlight male incontinence and the requirement for bins in men’s toilets. A spokesperson explained: “We’ve been campaigning with a number of national organisations, as well as the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Bladder and Bowel Continence Care, to get the government to make it law to have bins in all male toilets nationally.

“Boys need Bins asks for the law to be updated, so that men are given access to sanitary bins in their toilets. It’s simply not good enough that men are told to use a disabled toilet to access a sanitary bin. Men have told us that they feel embarrassed about this and don’t consider themselves to be disabled. It’s time for men to have their own provision.”

Treatment for prostate cancer frequently results in temporary or, in uncommon instances, lasting difficulties with urination, including leaking (incontinence) and experiencing frequent or urgent needs. Surgical intervention typically causes stress incontinence (leaking when you cough or laugh), whilst radiotherapy can trigger irritation, a weakened stream, or sudden urges to urinate.

NHS symptoms of prostate cancer include:

• finding it difficult to start peeing or straining to pee
• having a weak flow of urine
• “stop start” peeing
• needing to pee urgently or often, or both
• feeling like you still need to pee when you’ve just finished
• peeing during the night

Other symptoms can include:

• erectile dysfunction (being unable to get or keep an erection)
• blood in your urine or blood in your semen
• lower back pain and losing weight without trying to (these may be symptoms of advanced prostate cancer)