13 January 2022 at 12:53pm – it’s a date and time that’ll be forever imprinted on my mind along with the Consultant uttering the words “it’s bad news” when giving me the results of my biopsy.

I had Prostate Cancer.

My world came crashing down, the room span and I didn’t hear too much for a while after. However I did hear “but there’s good news as well”. Whilst unfortunately I had not been diagnosed at the earliest of stages there were treatment options and good one’s at that – my tumour was stage two and I was a candidate for Cryotherapy to try and remove it focally. I entrusted myself into the care of the quite simply wonderful Professor Hashim U Ahmed and his team at the Imperial College London via The Cromwell Hospital.

What I have learnt since is that there’s a chance my diagnosis could’ve been made sooner and also that many thousands of undiagnosed men could be captured in time to quite literally save their lives. Professor Hashim U Ahmed is at the forefront of The PROSTAGRAM Campaign which you can read about here:

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/giving/donate/prostagram/

1 in 8 men will get prostate cancer and as you enter your fifties you’re at even higher risk; it’s not always life-threatening; but when it is, the earlier you catch it the more likely it is to be cured. PSA blood tests are a good indicator, and I’d encourage every man in the risk bracket to have these regularly, but the non-invasive targeted MRi scan is by far and away the best diagnostic tool. My PSA was only borderline….. without a scan my diagnosis may have come too late.

I’ve had my operation and I hope and pray it’s been successful. Now I want to help give other men the same chance I’ve had by raising funds towards The PROSTAGRAM Campaign. I’m doing this by walking HALF A MILLION STEPS in April (a huge challenge with a slipped disc!!) and hoping to get at least a penny a step. Please help me in this and donate what you can in these economically tough times by clicking on my GIVE NOW button to the side.