Dad-of-eight who 'never drank or smoked' hit with cancer diagnosis after routine test
The 62-year-old wasn't sure about getting the test, but his nurse sister urged him to get checked.
Prostate cancer: Doctor outlines symptoms you might experience
A dad of eight who was known for his healthy lifestlye has been given a devastating cancer diagnosis. Mike Crowe might never have made the appointment that led to his cancer being identified if it was not for his sister. The 62-year-old was “always very health conscious” but “shied away” from getting a prostate exam.
It was only when his sister, a Manchester Royal Infirmary nurse, said he should get checked for the cancer that he decided to go to the doctor, Manchester Evening News reported.
Mr Crowe said: “I went to my GP and I asked, ‘is it worth having this prostate check?’ and he said ‘absolutely, get it done’.”
The exam revealed his prostate was very small, so the doctor sent him for more further tests.
Mr Crowe said: “When I was diagnosed, my consultant and a nurse were in the room but no smiles. I knew something wasn’t right.
Mr Crowe added: “They told me the biopsies have come back and that I have prostate cancer.
“Everything just went blank. Everything he said after I wasn’t taking in properly. I stood up and felt weak.
“I never drank or smoked and in my head there was nothing I could have done better to prevent this. The next day I got up and told myself, ‘I can beat this’.”
Mr Crowe, a dad of eight and grandfather to nine, was lucky the test picked up the cancer early.
READ MORE: Two warning signs of incurable cancer when going to the toilet
It had not spread, meaning he had a significantly better chance of recovery and several treatment options were available.
He opted for surgery, which was completed at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre in Liverpool. After eight days he was back on his feet and back to work.
Now, he is encouraging other men to to come forward if they fall into the risk category, or have any symptoms.
Prostate cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers and treatable if caught early.
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Tackling the disease at stages one and two has a near 100 per cent survival rate compared to around 50 per cent at stage four, according to NHS research.
Prostate cancer is usually symptomless during an early stage but the chances of developing it are higher for black men, men over the age of 50 or for those who have a family history of the disease.
However, symptoms, when they do appear can include:
needing to urinate more frequently, often during the night
needing to rush to the toilet
difficulty in starting to pee (hesitancy)
straining or taking a long time while peeing
weak flow
feeling that your bladder has not emptied fully
blood in urine or blood in semen