Harrogate man diagnosed with prostate cancer urging others not to miss routine health checks
Aubrey Smith had no symptoms of prostate cancer but was told he had it following a routine doctors appointment
A Harrogate man who was diagnosed with prostate cancer during the pandemic is encouraging others to not miss out on vital health checks.
When Aubrey Smith, 58, retired from the police he went for a full health check up, where doctors found he had elevated levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA). While it wasn't concerning at the time, doctors advised he have regular blood tests to monitor his PSA levels.
But in August 2021 doctors found that his levels had risen and he was sent for a biopsy and MRI where they found he had prostate cancer.
Mr Smith said he was lucky to catch it early.
"It all happened very quickly. Within a week of seeing the doctor I had an MRI scan and biopsies done. The week after that I was sat down to be told I had early stage prostate cancer which was very good news in that it was early as it meant there were treatment options out there for me.
"It is still there though. The dreaded C-word gets dropped and your mind can go into overdrive.
"If I'd have just kept my head down and waited until something felt wrong, that could've been too late for me. That early check and diagnosis, you've got a really good chance of a full recovery and of living a full life."
Prostate Cancer UK and NHS England have joined forces to launch a campaign to help find 13,000 ‘missing men’ who have not started treatment for prostate cancer since the beginning of the pandemic.
One in eight men will get prostate cancer. Men over 50, black men, or those whose father or brother had the disease are at even greater risk. Although men shouldn’t wait for symptoms, anyone who does experience symptoms such as problems urinating or needing to pee more frequently often should speak to their doctor to get checked.
Mr Smith has been sharing his experience with friends to encourage them to get checked.
He said:
"One of the first conversations I had was with guys a similar age to me who had no real knowledge about it. It's not being ignorant, it's just not knowing what it really is. We hear about it, but you don't really look into it.
"I wouldn't have known any different. I didn't have any symptoms, I'm generally fit and active, I'm not having to get up four or five times a night to go to the toilet. I literally would not know had I not had those blood tests done."
Prostate Cancer UK has partnered with NHS England to ask the public to share its 30-second risk checker and are calling on men to use this tool to learn more about their level of risk and what action they can take.
You can do the risk checker here
Mr Smith and the Harrogate Town Walking Football club are playing a charity match over eight hours to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK and to raise awareness of the disease. It is taking place at Rossett Sports Centre on 3 July 2022.
He added:
"We want to raise as much money as we can but also raise awareness. Men are traditionally more reluctant to talk about health issues but that stigma is being broken and we're getting the message across now."