Prostate cancer changed my outlook on life

When teacher Luke Williams, 49, was signed off work with a twisted ankle he decided to book an appointment with his GP, a decision that might as well saved his life.

The results that came back from a routine blood test showed that Luke had prostate cancer.

“The moment I was diagnosed, my outlook on life changed,” he said.

“I’d look at everyday things such as a leaf or a worm and wonder ‘What if I never see that again?”

Luke is now cancer-free after undergoing surgery to remove his prostate gland.

He was one of 47,000 UK men to be diagnosed with prostate cancer every year – now the third most common cause of cancer death in the UK.

The prostate, a gland that’s underneath the bladder and surrounds the urethra, is usually the size of a walnut and grows bigger as men age.

Its location means that the symptoms of prostate cancer usually only develop when the cancer grows and starts to push against the urethra, which can affect urination.

Some men may delay visiting their GP due to fear, embarrassment or a general lack of awareness of the prostate cancer diagnostic process and their risk of developing their disease.

But if caught early, it can often be successfully treated.

Advanced prostate cancer can cause symptoms that include back, hip or pelvis pain; problems getting or keeping an erection; blood in urine or semen; and unexplained weight loss.

Anyone with concerns about prostate cancer may contact Prostate Cancer UK's Specialist Nurses in confidence on 0800 074 8383 or online via the Live Chat instant messaging service: www.prostatecanceruk.org.

The Specialist Nurse phone service is free to landlines and open from 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday with late opening until 8pm on Wednesdays.