LGBTQ+ WALNUT
Prostate Cancer Support
Welcome to LGBTQ+ Walnut
LGBTQ+ Walnut from April 2025 is now an independent support group for any LGBTQ+ person affected by prostate cancer. The group started at the beginning of 2014, as a project at METRO Charity, supported by Prostate Cancer UK.
We now have formed as an Association for our LGBTQ+ Walnut group from the 15th of March 2025.
Simon Faulkner has been prostate cancer peer support group coordinator for the METRO Walnut group since 2014 and continues to do so for our LGBTQ+ Walnut.
From April we will be holding our face to face meetings in New Cross, which is one stop out from the London Bridge mainline station. Please contact us for details.
Initially LGBTQ+ Walnut mainly covered the Greater London area and the South-East England but now we have group members from all around the UK, so we welcome you wherever you are based.
Please see our Association's Constitution here, please read before contacting us. Thank you.
Guy's Cancer Academy resource
Please see QR code or the link below
"Living with prostate cancer: a resource for gay and bisexual men". Developed by Guy's Cancer Academy, is a free digital resource in collaboration with our LGBTQ+ Walnut support group, Out with Prostate Cancer, and Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, it provides tailored information on diagnosis, treatment, and side effects like sexual dysfunction. See further details on our Support Group page for this and the the other link for the 'Health Professional Resource' too.
But please remember - talking and sharing with other gay and bisexual men at a support group meeting, like ours, is very helpful too.
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. This is one stop out from London Bridge mainline station and very close to New Cross and New Cross stations, which have good links 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 might be changed to either the 2nd or the 4th Saturday of the month. Please contact us to check.
Is LGBTQ+ Walnut for you?
Are you a man who has sex with men, whether or not you identify as gay, bisexual or pansexual, or someone who identifies as trans or non binary 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 LGBTQ+ Walnut is for you, but please contact us first before coming to a meeting. We now cover the Greater London area and the South-East England but welcome you wherever you are based. Also our online meeting on the first Saturday of the month is to allow others from all across the UK to attend on Zoom. 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 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 LGBTQ+ Walnut is for you too, 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 LGBTQ+ 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.
Latest News
LGBTQ+ Walnut Funding
Since March 2025, our group and its 2 meetings a month and all admin rely on our committee members, who help run our meetings in a voluntary capacity. We have set up a bank account to help with running of our group, but do not now have any formal funding. Our face to face venue support us by providing the space free of charge, which we are most greatful for. So any donation however small, to keep our service running, is welcomed. This will help with the funding of our website, mobile line, printing costs for leaflet etc., events and community work. Please contact us for further information of how to donate. Many thanks Simon Faulkner, Chair. Contact us
LGBTQ+ Walnut meeting update
We are running face to face meetings on the 3rd Saturday of the month. 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. You will need to contact Simon for the Zoom link.
Contact us to find out more.
PCUK active surveillance group
Prostate Cancer UK has an on-line group discussion to provide support for men on active surveillance.
Healthcare professionals
A pdf of the LGBTQ+ Walnut leaflet is available for noticeboards and clinic display systems. Please contact us >>>
Our supporters
We are indebted to the following organisations that have provided historical financial and other assistance that made it possible for the LGBTQ+ Walnut group to offer support to LGBTQ+ people with prostate cancer. Also thank you to all those who have donated and supported our group with money and their time.
