PSAwareness

Hi...I'm Will, and I was recently diagnosed with Prostate Cancer. I'm starting a campaign with the sole aim of ensuring men are not only aware of a simple yearly blood test, called a PSA, but also of requesting their first one as soon as they're approaching their mid 40s, when the risk increases.

This test is vital in the early detection of Cancer, particularly Prostate Cancer. If caught before spreading from the Prostate, the Prostate can be removed, and the problem is gone. However, because too many Dads, brothers, husbands, and sons are not made aware of the simple PSA test, too many only discover the cancer after it has breached the Prostate, and spread to other parts of the body, meaning a man will never be free of it, or much worse.

In many cases, it can be controlled with a variety of treatments, in other cases, the outcomes are less positive. I'm now facing a course of chemotherapy, because my Cancer was discovered thanks to a delayed PSA test, and it had already spread beyond the Prostate. My future is uncertain, but without the PSA, I would even now be unaware of what's going on inside me, because I have no symptoms to alert me.

The PSA test is crucial to alerting men, and the healthcare providers, which is why my campaign is focused solely on awareness, and taking the first precautionary step of arranging an annual test with your GP's surgery.

I am raising funds for leaflets, posters, and anything else that helps bring awareness to every man...and every woman, for the men they love, as fathers, brothers, sons, husbands, and lovers. Getting my campaign off the ground will incur costs such as marketing materials, and occasional travel costs, but any excess funds will either go towards funding equipment for the treatment of the disease at the Worcestershire Royal Hospital, or to the charity Prostate Cancer UK.

I'm meeting with my local MP on March 10, to see what help he can bring, in terms of publicity and, of course, raising the issue in Parliament. I really hope you will consider donating, even small donations will help save men's lives, and as the advert says, we're worth it!