LGBTQ Prostate Cancer Support

Welcome to LGBT Walnut

LGBT Walnut is an independent support group for any LGBTQ+ person affected by prostate cancer. The group started at the beginning of 2014, as part of the METRO Walnut project at METRO Charity. METRO still employs the Prostate Cancer Peer Support Group Coordinator, Simon Faulkner, and provides meeting space at their New Cross site, which is one stop out from the London Bridge mainline station.

LGBT Walnut mainly covers the Greater London area and parts of South-East England but we welcome you wherever you are based.

We now have a Just Giving page that allows you to donate to the running of our group via our host charity METRO Charity - https://www.justgiving.com/page/METRO Walnut -1706631038389 - thank you for any donations.

Latest News

Coronavirus update

We have returned to face-to-face monthly meetings, but please check to see if we are running in person meetings before coming along.

Admission will be by prior arrangement - unfortunately you can't just turn up on the day. However, we will continue to run our online meetings on the 1st Saturday of the month.

PCUK advice for men at higher risk

Prostate Cancer UK has advice for men with prostate cancer that are at higher risk as a result of the Coronavirus.

Find out more >>>

PCUK active surveillance group

Prostate Cancer UK has an on-line group discussion to provide support for men on active surveillance.

Find out more >>>

Healthcare professionals

A pdf of the LGBT Walnut leaflet is available for noticeboards. Please contact us >>>

Why "Walnut"?

Good question. The answer is that the prostate in a healthy adult man is roughly the size of a walnut. You'll find a few other prostate cancer groups that have used the word "walnut" in their names. We'd like to say we thought of it first, but that'd be telling fibs.

Because the prostate plays a big part in every man's sex life and if you're a man who has sex with men, any problem with your prostate can affect you in ways that straight men are not affected. If you need to talk openly and without worrying about the reaction from others about how prostate cancer and its treatments have affected you, or might affect you, you'll be able to do it with us because we're not straight either.

What are our meetings like?

We meet twice a month, firstly online on the 1st Saturday of the month and then face to face usually on the 3rd Saturday* of every month in New Cross, London, at METRO's offices. This is one stop out from London Bridge mainline station and very close to New Cross station which has good link to London Underground.

The meetings are informal and the emphasis is always on you being able to talk about what's going on with you and for you to get support from other group members. We try to "tell it like it is" based on our own personal experience of prostate cancer. As we're all different it's likely you'll hear different experiences. Find out more >>>

You need to book your place at a meeting so it's always best to contact us first so we can make sure you know how to find us and that the group is going to be what you're looking for.

* If the 3rd Saturday of the month falls on a Bank Holiday weekend it's likely that our meeting will be changed to either the 2nd or the 4th Saturday of the month. Please contact us to check.

Is LGBT Walnut for you?

Are you a man who has sex with men, whether or not you identify as gay, bisexual or pansexual, and do you have prostate cancer or are you affected by prostate cancer? Or have you had either investigations or treatments for prostate cancer? If so, then LGBT Walnut is for you, but please contact us first before coming to a meeting. We mainly cover the Greater London area and parts of South-East England but welcome you wherever you are based - our online meeting on the first Saturday of the month is to allow others from all across the UK to attend. There is help and support out here where ever to live in the UK.

If you need to talk openly and without worrying about the reaction from others about how prostate cancer and its treatments have affected you, or might affect you, you'll be able to do it with us because we're not straight either.

Are you a Trans woman (male to female) or identify as non-binary or AMAB and who has prostate cancer or has had investigations or treatments for prostate cancer? If you are, then LGBT Walnut is for you, but please contact us first before coming to a meeting.

Are you a lesbian who has a close male relative who is affected by prostate cancer and wants to know more? If you are, then LGBT Walnut is for you, but please contact us first before coming to a meeting.

Glossary -

‘By man, men or male we define this as someone who is cisgender where it means that one's gender correlates with the gender one was assigned at birth'.

‘By trans, transfem or trans woman or non-binary or AMAB or other we define people self-identifying who don't identify as men but may be assigned-male-at-birth’

All LGBTQ+ people who have a prostate cancer diagnosis and their partners are welcome at our group.

Our supporters

We are indebted to the following organisations that have provided financial and other assistance that makes it possible for the LGBT Walnut group to offer support to LGBT people with prostate cancer. In particular Metro Charity employs the Prostate Cancer Peer Support Group Coordinator, Simon Faulkner, and provides meeting space at their New Cross site.