‘The more men who get tested, the better’
Cllr Stan Shreeve is urging men to get tested for prostate cancer(Image: Submitted)
A leading councillor has created a video diary of his cancer treatment to make men more aware and get tested early. Deputy Leader of North East Lincolnshire Council, Stan Shreeve was diagnosed with prostate cancer and has started hormone therapy.
In a series of video diaries he has posted on Instagram and his Facebook page, Councillor Shreeve and fellow Conservative cabinet member, Hayden Dawkins talk of the need for men to get tested at their GP surgeries. Councillor Shreeve, is the cabinet member with responsibility for health, wellbeing and adult social care and he and Councillor Dawkins are councillors for Humberston and New Waltham.
“Along with Hayden, I am putting my story out there with regular video updates and this is purely from a public health view because the more men who get tested, the better,” said Councillor Shreeve.
He added: “The important thing is to share this journey and let’s get more men tested and it is important for me to highlight the impact of the possible treatments. I have been able to show the response to hot flushes and the poor sleep patterns. I have already started three months of hormone therapy and then I will be going for radiotherapy. In 90 per cent of cases it is curable.”
The deputy leader said men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer have a choice between surgery to remove all or part of the prostate gland, or hormone therapy or radiotherapy. He will start radiotherapy at Castle Hill Hospital, in Cottingham in mid-June, over a four-week period.
It is a regional centre for cancer treatment. “There is support during the treatment and the NHS will provide transport, bridge tolls and parking if you need it,” he said.
Councillor Shreeve said he is being supported by his wife Janice and his family. “I am still going to meetings and getting out and about. It is not debilitating at the moment.
“I take the view that as Deputy Leader and responsible for health and well-being, I have a role to play. I am a public figure and want to get as many men tested because one in eight develop prostate cancer, with one in four if you are black and the sooner the cancer is detected the better the outcome.”
Signs of prostate cancer according to the NHS
Prostate cancer does not usually cause any symptoms until the cancer has grown large enough to put pressure on the tube that carries urine out of the bladder.
Symptoms of prostate cancer can include:
needing to pee more frequently, often during the nightneeding to rush to the toiletdifficulty in starting to pee (hesitancy)straining or taking a long time while peeingweak flowfeeling that your bladder has not emptied fullyblood in urine or blood in semen
These symptoms do not always mean you have prostate cancer. Many men’s prostates get larger as they get older because of a non-cancerous condition called benign prostate enlargement.
If you are ever unsure, it is always a good idea to get checked out by doctors.
In his video diary he describes symptoms of prostate cancer, which is now more prevalent than breast cancer and most men will in their middle age have an enlarged prostate. The videos describe this and the symptoms, he said.
“Anything you can do to encourage men to get checked, or get yourself checked, if appropriate,” the councillor said. The 75-year-old councillor said he still attends Haycroft Avenue Gym twice each week for weight-lifting exercise to combat decalcification in his bones. He also walks at least 10,000 steps per day.
He said he first went to get tested after talking with his fellow councillor Hayden Dawkins. “It has made me aware of many men who have prostate problems and there is King Charles on his cancer journey and David Cameron described his experience too,” he said.
Councillor Dawkins said he was diagnosed with an enlarged prostate which has not been detected as cancer. He said: “I had all the symptoms but was luckily all clear.
“Being a man we don’t complain or go along to the doctor’s. But it is vital that if there are any of the symptoms, such as the urgency to wee, waking up in the night to get to the loo, it is important not to turn a blind eye. all it is is a simple blood test.”
He added: “It highlighted for me the importance for all men to get tested. I underwent all the tests, an MRI scan, camera probe, bladder scan, the whole lot. My GP Dr Dijoux was brilliant.
“I got a test the same day of my visit, then got results three days later and MRI and more scans. I cannot say enough about the NHS and how brilliant they all were. I would have not had any better treatment if I were a private patient.”
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