Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. 

I have prostate cancer but, thankfully, I believe I am one of the lucky ones. I was fortunate to be diagnosed early by a PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) test; I was told also that I am fit for my age, which helps.  I was suitable for a new treatment called HIFU after which I had recovered within days.  I am now optimistic for the future.  I want to celebrate this and help make sure more men get the same good news by raising funds for Prostate Cancer UK. Please will you help?

Prostate Cancer UK offers information and support, including advice on treatments and giving practical advice on the management of side effects. It provides funding for research also.  It is addressing all the key issues.

Prostate cancer is the single most common cancer in men yet diagnosis is sometimes poor and the majority of the treatments iatrogenic; when there is the risk of significant side effects caused by the treatment you are faced with a truly life-changing dilemma.  You need all the advice and support you can get to help you decide which path to take.

Here in the UK one in eight men are affected by prostate cancer; that number rises to one in four Afro-Caribbean men. There are 40,000 cases a year and sadly 10,000 deaths a year.

Many General Practice doctors in the UK do not offer PSA tests as they consider them too unreliable both for false negatives and for false positives.  PSA tests are more common in the USA but it has been estimated that 95 per cent of men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer do not need to be treated.  With the high chance of side effects from the treatment, 95 per cent would be at risk of life-altering side effects to save five per cent.  I was fortunate again that the PSA test was reasonably accurate for me but better diagnostic tests are needed.

It is a charity worth supporting, it is a charity I would like to thank personally by raising funds for them and I hope you will join me.

Thank you