Giving a face to prostate cancer

By Jane Elliott
Health reporter, BBC News

John Finch, who has had prostate cancer, wants to show 'life goes on'

Mention breast cancer and most people will immediately personalise the disease.

We either think of a well known celebrity, like Kylie Minogue, who has had it or a relative we know with it.

But despite the fact that nearly 32,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year in the UK, including Dundee United Chairman Eddie Thompson and racing driver Sir Stirling Moss, few people can put a face to the disease.

Now the Prostate Cancer Charity is taking action and has joined forces with award-winning photographer Eamonn McCabe to raise the profile of a disease that kills one man every hour in the UK.

Images

With a series of four dramatic black and white images in its annual report of men with the disease, the charity hopes to give a more personal face to prostate cancer.

John Finch, 74, from Bexhill-On-Sea, is one of the men featured.

I never stop telling people to go and get themselves tested John Finch In Pictures: Giving a face to prostate cancer

He said he hoped a picture which shows him dancing with his wife Elsie would prove an inspiration to others that life can and does go on.

"If we can show people, even those with advanced cancer, that there is hope and that they should not give up.

"I never stop telling people to go and get themselves tested. It is not all doom and gloom."

John went to his doctor for a PSA (prostate specific antigen) blood test after showing the symptoms for prostate cancer. He was initially told his results were clear and the error was not spotted for another two years.

His consultant then told him that he was eligible for a clinical trial and John said he was delighted until he did some further research.

"I looked up the trial on the internet when I got home and found that it was only available for people with advanced cancer and a poor prognosis."

But John said that he is currently feeling well and enjoying his passion for dancing.

Photographer

Mr McCabe said he had been delighted to help the charity.

"I chose to support the Prostate Cancer Charity because I was concerned about prostate cancer and I wanted to learn more.

Where is the prostate?

"I'm 58 and I know this disease affects many men my age, so I wanted to do my bit in raising awareness and promoting the cause.

"I was very interested in meeting these men who were similar in age to me and I found it a very rewarding project to be involved in."

The charity's annual report is a dramatic departure from the usual report, and opens with the direct question "Are we really effective?"

Chief Executive John Neate said he thought they were - but that more needed to be done.

"Asking the question 'Are we really effective?' is perhaps a risky strategy, but we hope we have answered honestly.

"Certainly, a huge amount has been achieved by the charity but we know, of course, that much more needs to be done in the field of prostate cancer to ensure that men and their families get the improvements they deserve."

Anniversary

The charity, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, has committed nearly £5m to research and is currently launching a new round of grant awards to research projects.

Chris Hiley, a nurse and head of policy and research at the Prostate Cancer Charity, said one question that needed answering was why some people seemed to develop aggressive and fatal prostate cancers, while others had a milder cancer.

And she said that being able to identify early which way someone's cancer would develop could prove very beneficial.

"It seems cruel saying to people I don't know which side of the fence you will be on."

She said that if doctors were able to predict how someone's cancer would progress they might be able to save them unnecessary tests and treatments.