Clerical error saved cancer man

Philip Burr had his prostate removed after he was found to have cancer

A retired schoolteacher who only had a prostate cancer test after a clerical error says the mistake saved his life.

When he joined a new doctors' surgery after moving from Gwynedd to Carmarthenshire Philip Burr, 63, had a routine health check.

Although he did not have any symptoms a nurse accidently ticked a box on a form which resulted in a special blood test.

Since surgery Mr Burr has helped found a support group which is calling for more routine screening of men over 50.

Prostate cancer is the most common male cancer in the UK.

Each year, nearly 32,000 men are diagnosed and more than 10,000 die from the disease.

Cases are rare in men aged under 50, but it becomes more common as they grow older.

Mr Burr moved to Pentre-cwrt from Dolgellau, Gwynedd two years ago.

"As a consequence I had to find myself a new GP - and after becoming a new patient I attended to have some routine tests for cholesterol and diabetes," he said.

I basically owe my life to that nurse and I went back and I told her Philip Burr

"Unbeknown to me, the nurse who gave me those tests ticked the box for a PSA test - which is a blood test which establishes if there's a problem with the prostate gland.

"That test normally takes place if a patient has symptoms of prostate disease or if a patient has heard about a PSA test and requests a test.

"In my case I was a new patient and the nurse made a mistake.

"I basically owe my life to that nurse and I went back and I told her that weeks afterwards because that test found a high PSA which was then investigated further."

After a biopsy and scan Mr Burr then underwent surgery at Morriston Hospital in Swansea a year ago.

"As I recovered from that I started to wonder how I could pay back some of the good things that happened," he added.

Routine screening

"Earlier this year I decided to try to put in place a support group of the type I would have wished for."

When he was diagnosed Mr Burr was given the choice of two treatments - radiotherapy or major surgery.

"I was desperate. I would really have liked to spoken to someone who had had surgery and someone who had had radiotherapy - but that was not a possibility."

The West Wales Prostate Cancer Support Group now covers an area that includes Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Swansea, Bridgend and Neath Port Talbot.

"One of the aims of the group is to make men and their families more aware of the dangers of prostate cancer," added Mr Burr.

"The test is there - the important thing is to raise awareness of that because the NHS will not screen men routinely.

"We advise people if there is a history of prostate cancer to request the test earlier but general speaking at 50 to go along and have the test.

"Prostate cancer in the early stages has no symptoms yet it is at that stage it can be treated more successfully."

The group stages an awareness day that will include representatives from many different cancer support groups and the NHS on 10 September. It takes place at St Peter's Civic Hall in Carmarthen between 1000 and 1600 BST.