Courier April 2013 - myroyalmail

Men willoften sticktheir heads inthe sand whenit comes totheir healthLit tle can make alot of differenceStuart Little is the first specialist nursethat our charity partner Prostate Cancer UKhas funded thanks to your generosity. He’saiming to make a big impact…How does it feel to be the first Prostate CancerUK nurse?It’s really exciting. I’m looking forward to providingcare and support for men across Glasgow.What do you think about the fundraising workof Royal Mail people?It’s fantastic that staff have really got behind the fundraisingdrive to support Prostate Cancer UK.Tell us about yourself…I’ve been a nurse since 1987. I’ve worked in variousroles including oncology, as a specialist nurse inHIV/AIDS, working predominantly with refugeecommunities. I have also supported people with addictions.What will your new role involve day-to-day?I’ll be working in various locations across the city soI reach men and their families affected by prostatecancer in their local communities. I will also workhard to raise awareness about the symptoms ofprostate cancer. We really want to ensure men getadvice and treatment as soon as possible. If canceris diagnosed at an early stage, treatment is oftensimpler and more likely to be effective.How can you make a difference?One of the most important skills a nurse can have isthe ability to listen to what an individual needs. Mymain priority is to give plenty of time to men andtheir families to find out what they really want andwhere. I hope to help improve the service that menare currently being offered.What would you say to men who think thiscancer won’t affect them?Men will often stick their heads in the sand when itcomes to their health, and hope a problem will justgo away. But prostate cancer is the most commoncancer in men, and often there are no symptoms.We also know that when there are potential signs ofsome other kind of prostate problem, some men stillput off going to see their doctor.So I would urge men to find out more about theirprostate and what can go wrong – check out ourwebsite at www.prostatecanceruk.org. Talk to yourGP if you have any concerns. It’s really importantthat men – and women – start thinking and talkingabout this disease as that’s how we can all startmaking a difference.We’ve raisedmore than£800,000for Prostate CancerUK since staffchose them asour charity ofthe year.Anita’s Magic prizeby LISA MOBLEYLucky Anita Frecknall, manager at Horshamdelivery office, enjoyed a behind-thescenesvisit to DJ Neil Fox’s breakfast showat Magic FM.Neil spoke to Courier in our Movember-themed issueabout his personal experience of prostate cancer,which claimed his father’s life. He offered avisit to his radio show as a competition prize, andAnita’s entry was picked out of the hat.Anita says: ‘I’d never done anything likethat before, and it was really interesting to seewhat goes into making a radio show.‘Neil wasreally nice.He chattedto me forages aboutwhat we do.It was a brilliant experience.’Neil says: ‘I was happy to help. The fundraisingRoyal Mail staff are doing for Prostate Cancer UK isphenomenal.’Anita got a surprise celebrity encounter toowhen she met 80s crooner Alexander O’Neal, whoarrived to record an interview for the show.‘I couldn’t believe it!’ she says.Courier chums… Neil and AnitaRay says know the riskFormer England goalkeeper Ray Clemence is oneof English and European football’s mostdecorated goalkeepers. He shares his story…‘I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2005after a conversation with the England physio.‘I mentioned that I wasn’t able to pee at mynormal speed and never really felt that I’d emptiedmy bladder properly.‘I was given a Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA)blood test and my levels were slightly raised, but sixmonths later the levels had increased, and twobiopsies confirmed that I had prostate cancer.‘I decided to have the prostate removed followedby six weeks of radiotherapy. I also had hormoneinjections for two years.‘My treatment was successful, but in November2011 I suddenly felt awful and I had a terrible painin my groin. I went back to the specialist and backon the hormone treatment.‘Unfortunately, at a check-up in November 2012I discovered the cancer had returned, and I am nowundergoing a six-treatment course ofchemotherapy.‘Now I’m supporting Prostate Cancer UK’spartnership with The Football League to make sureeveryone connected to football – the players, thefans, the staff and the managers – knows aboutprostate cancer.‘Nothing is too embarrassing if it saves your life.’A full version of this article appeared in ProstateCancer UK’s first issue of Progress magazine. You canread the full interview on myroyalmail.comTo find out more about the football partnership, visitprostatecanceruk.org/football