Did you know that prostate cancer affects as many men as breast cancer affects women?
Prostate Cancer UK is the Official Charity Partner of The Football League for the 2012/13 season.Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men; it kills one man, every hour. The problem is that people just don’t realise the scale of this disease. Did you know that prostate cancer affects as many men as breast cancer affects women and that 1 in 8 men will get prostate cancer?
Gills fan David Annand has been traveling the nation's sports Stadiums this season to raise awareness of the campaign. Here is David’s story.
“I’m a Gillingham supporter and have been since 1973 when I attended my first match. I am also a Prostate Cancer UK supporter and have been since 2011 when I was first diagnosed with prostate cancer at the age of 49.
"The most disturbing thing for me, apart from hearing those fearful words “you’ve got cancer” was that I had no symptoms. I thought only ‘old men’ got prostate cancer. I was a fit 49 year old that played sport and knew that you should eat 5 portions of fruit and veg a day. I didn’t know exactly where my prostate was and certainly didn’t know what it did.
I’m so thankful that I had a routine check-up and blood test because it was initially through my PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) test that provided important clues that after further investigation identified that, in fact, I did have prostate cancer. Fortunately for me my prostate cancer was diagnosed as early/low risk which meant that I had a choice of treatment. The danger if you wait until you have symptoms is that the cancer may have advanced to a less treatable stage, narrowing your choice of treatment and potentially affecting the quality of your life to a far greater extent.
To raise awareness of prostate cancer I am walking around the perimeter of the pitch at famous sporting stadiums within the UK to highlight just how common prostate cancer is and to encourage men of all ages to be aware of the benefits of adopting a healthy diet/lifestyle and for those men over the age of 40 to routinely have a health check. They owe it to their loved ones and most importantly they owe it to themselves.”
Prostate Cancer UK fights to help more men survive prostate cancer and enjoy a better quality of life. They support men and provide vital information; they find answers by funding research into causes and treatments and they lead change, raising the profile of the disease and improving care.
Prostate Cancer UK’s Sledgehammer Fund aims to wake up the nation to a disease that kills 10,000 men every year. That's one man every hour, and the number of men with the disease is rising at an alarming rate.
While it is already the most common cancer in men, prostate cancer is predicted to become the most common cancer of all in the UK by 2030. It's as big an issue for men as breast cancer is for women — yet prostate cancer gets just a fraction of the money for research. The disease is poorly understood, the tests aren't good enough, and the treatments can have life-changing side effects. The prostate is approximately the size and shape of a walnut, and Prostate Cancer UK needs a huge sledgehammer to crack it
The Sledgehammer Fund. Text CRACK to 70004 to donate £5* or visit prostatecanceruk.org/football
*Text costs £5 plus network charge. Prostate Cancer UK receives 100% of your donation. Obtain bill payers permission. Customer care 08448479800. Charity No 1005541.