This article was written by Stewart Houston, chair of the Red Tractor Pigs Board and a former NPA and BPEX chair. An earlier version of this article was published on the National Pig Association website on 5th November 2024. This updated article has been published below by FCN with Stewart’s permission as part of FCN’s #NipItInTheBud campaign with Macmillan Cancer Support.
“I know it’s not a very original title, but I’m on a mission. If you would bear with me through this little story, there’s a strong message at the end because farming and country folk are often too focused on their livestock and crops to look after themselves. You can’t do that if you end up unwell unnecessarily!
“I was due my usual practice nurse annual look at blood pressure etc. at the end of September, and my wife, Janet encouraged me to ask for a PSA test (prostate specific antigen). The nurse reluctantly agreed to do it for me and the surgery called me the next day to tell me that the score was very high (80.4 where normal is 4) and that they’d referred me to Harrogate Hospital Urology Department. I had no symptoms at all and would never have known if Janet hadn’t insisted that I asked for the test.
“Within a couple of days, they fixed me up with a bone scan (in the Nuclear Scanning Unit. What!) on the 11th of October and we were back in Harrogate for the results on the 21st.
“Advanced prostate cancer was confirmed, which meant that it had spread beyond the prostate. It was a bit weird seeing your own skeleton on screen with little black dots that shouldn’t be there!
“Because of the earlier high score result Janet and I were prepared for the worst and focused on what comes next, and I’m pleased to say that they started me on hormone therapy that very day. The treatment consisted of 4 weeks on pills with an injection midway and which is to be repeated every 3 months for the rest of my life. I liked that last bit because it sounded longer term and made me comfortable to start reading a long book.
“The Consultant explained that the male hormone, testosterone, actually encourages cancer growth, and the purpose of the treatment was to reduce then stop the body producing the male hormone.
“Whatever you’ve heard about the NHS, their cancer stuff works like clockwork. They supplied explanatory pamphlets and introduced me to Macmillan nurses if I felt the need for support. I’ve read the information pamphlet from top to toe, and nowhere does it say that I have to stop drinking beer and wine. Get in!
“They quickly organised a meeting between the Consultant, the Oncologist and the Radiographer to discuss what else they might support me with, and I had my first chemotherapy at the end of November. It’s clear that they can’t cure the cancer, but they can control it without ruining quality of life.
“So, I’ve told you all this because, as I said earlier, country folk are notorious for being too busy (and stubborn) to look after themselves, as well as the “I don’t want to know!” syndrome.
“So, Lads, I need you to Man Up and go and Get A Test. Several of my mates in the industry have already taken up the challenge and come out fine. Now, a message for the Ladies. You need to start pushing your husband, partner, Dad, uncles and brothers to GET A TEST.
“The test itself is not as definitive as most doctors would like and can miss the presence of cancer, so you need a bit of grit to insist on having the test. The trick is to catch it early. The survival rate then is almost 100%. The longer it’s there, the more it sneaks about in the body causing longer term bother, so if you are around the age of 50 get tested regularly. This is especially the case if there is a history of prostate trouble in the family. In my case, there were no symptoms, it was just Janet looking after me after stuff she’d seen on television.
“Believe me, there’s nothing to be frightened of. You’ll find that the support from the hospital and your GP surgery, in my case the Park Street Surgery in Ripon, is first class and your friends and family will rally round.
“So, just for me, Get Tested!“