Spalding cancer survivor joins with with Olympic cyclist Sir Chris Hoy to call for NHS to provide prostate cancer screening for men in their 40s

A cancer survivor is supporting Olympic cycling legend Sir Chris Hoy’s calls for early prostate screening to help save more men’s lives.

Rodney Marks, 74, from Spalding, was given the all clear from prostate cancer earlier this year but also feels that men in their 40s should receive a PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood test on the NHS in order to catch this disease early.

Sir Chris, who is a six-time Olympic Gold medal winner, has been diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer at the age of 48 - after the disease had spread to his bones - and has been calling on the NHS to change its testing policy.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men - which takes the lives of more than 10,000 men a year - but only half of these are caught in the early stages as there is no national screening programme and the disease often does not have symptoms.

Currently, the NHS offers the PSA test to men over the age of 50 and to any man with symptoms but Health Minister Wes Streeting has asked health bosses to look at lowering the age.

Mr Marks feels lucky that his cancer was picked up during treatment for another condition as he was showing no symptoms.

He said: “To get a diagnosis for something that could have been treated is pretty awful.

“The age needs to be lowered and it should be mandatory not just recommended so that there is no leeway for the doctors to say no.

“Asking for a blood test would definitely save lives, save money in the long run and give men more time with their family.”

Mr Marks had a blood test in August last year followed by a PSA which gave an early indicator that there could be something wrong.

He was referred to Pilgrim Hospital in Boston, when his readings, which tests the cells for cancer, was 6.9 which according to Cancer.Org for a man of his age should read 6.5.

Mr Marks was then sent to have a biopsy.

He said: “I was lucky - I had no symptoms - but due to a perforated bowel it showed up that I had a raised prostate.

“It was pure luck as I never even spoke to my GP and I consider myself lucky that it has been caught.

Mr Marks is urging men to get over any embarrassment and to speak to their doctor over symptoms such as trouble peeing - before it ‘catches you out.’

He said: “I would tell my grandsons to get tested - even if you have to pay for it.

“Those with a family history are more susceptible to it

“Like Sir Chris Hoy, anyone with a family history from the age 40 should be looking into it.”

Back in January the monarch King Charles III underwent an an operation for an enlarged prostate, which proved to be benign, and discussed his treatment publicly in order to encourage other men to get checked.

Coun Mark Le Sage has helped Mr Marks with prostate and testicular cancer campaigns and agrees it would be a game-changer if the NHS tested men under the age of 50.

He also recognises that men are ‘much worse at going to medical appointments’ so Movember is a good way to bring up men’s health topics such as prostate cancer.

Movember is an annual campaign which promotes men’s mental health issues such as suicide prevention, prostate and testicular cancer.

Coun Le Sage, who is a nurse, said: “Any screening and protocol that will vastly improve saving lives is important.

“Early intervention and diagnosis prevents a worse outcome - which might involve surgery involving surgery - don’t be embarrassed by a simple blood test.

“If something feels wrong you are the best person to know - get it seen and get it sorted.”

Visit here https://uk.movember.com/about/foundation for further information.

Prostate cancer symptoms

Symptoms of prostate cancer do not usually appear until the prostate is large enough to affect the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the penis (urethra).

When this happens, you may notice things like:

*an increased need to pee

*straining while you pee

*a feeling that your bladder has not fully emptied

These symptoms should not be ignored, but they do not mean you have prostate cancer.

The prostate is a small gland in the pelvis and is part of the male reproductive system.

About the size of a walnut, it's located between the penis and the bladder, and surrounds the urethra.

The main function of the prostate is to produce a thick white fluid that creates semen when mixed with the sperm produced by the testicles.

For further information and advice contact: Prostate Cancer UK 0800 074 8383

What do you think? Should there be more testing for prostate cancer? Post your comments below…