When Bob Webster first noticed a little bit of blood in his urine he “thought nothing of it”. The grandfather-of-two from Pickering in North Yorkshire says he felt healthy.
It wasn’t until last year when he heard former football manager Brian Horton discussing his prostate cancer story on the radio that he thought he should ask for a check.
Bob, who was 75 at the time, was due a blood test anyway because of his prosthetic hip. While there he asked for a PSA blood test, which is one way to detect the disease.
It was the first time he had ever had a PSA blood test, admitting he had “never heard of it before” and barely heard of prostate cancer until hearing Brian’s interview.
The test revealed Bob’s PSA levels to be extremely high and a further biopsy and scan revealed the worst – that he had prostate cancer.
Speaking to Express.co.uk, Bob recalled the moment he received his diagnosis.
“I wasn’t actually shocked, I was kind of prepared for it,” he said.
“I think the most difficult part was the fact my daughter had driven me to the hospital and she had to be told I had cancer.”
A full body scan later on brought even more bad news, that the cancer had spread to his ribs, spine and pelvis.
Bob has been told his cancer can’t be cured due to how advanced it is but treatments are available to prolong his life.
Despite this, Bob said he remained “quite positive”, believing that the experience has been worse for his family than himself.
The former Johnson and Johnson worker underwent treatment immediately including a type of hormone therapy used for prostate cancer as well as chemotherapy.
“I wanted whatever gave me the best survival or longest survival chance,” he said.
“With this cancer which has spread (advanced) I understand there is no cure and a less than 50 percent chance of survival after five years.”
The side effects of the chemo have been worse than the cancer itself, he said, leaving him severely fatigued after doses but he is still managing to enjoy some of his hobbies such as walking his dog and gardening.
He is due for a hospital appointment soon in which he will find out how successful his treatment has been so far.
Now he is making sure others are aware of the signs of prostate cancer, and urging men over 50 to ask for a PSA test even if they have no symptoms.
Bob, now 76, said: “I am now constantly telling my friends they should get checked.
“I had never heard of the test and barely knew what prostate cancer was until I heard that interview with Brian.
“It was potentially lifesaving and if I can help spread the message I might be able to help someone as well.”
He is also backing Prostate Cancer UK’s nationwide Find It Earlier campaign.
You can take Prostate Cancer UK’s 30 second online risk checker now at prostatecanceruk.org/risk.
According to the NHS, symptoms of prostate cancer do not usually appear until the prostate is large enough to affect the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the penis (urethra).
When this happens, you may notice things like:
- An increased need to pee
- Straining while you pee
- A feeling that your bladder has not fully emptied.
If you are experiencing symptoms or have concerns you should speak to your GP.