Brave Garston councillor Tim Williams says discovering he has prostate cancer was a "big shock" but he hoped his story would help others.
He is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatment after he was given the "shocking" diagnosis earlier this year.
Mr Williams is now using his experience to encourage men to get tested as his diagnosis was revealed following the high-profile death of BBC’s Breakfast TV presenter Bill Turnbull.
He said: “It was a big shock to my family as it is very concerning but we have a positive mindset, and we are going to beat this and the support I’ve received from the NHS Teams has been fabulous.”
After being diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer, which had travelled to his lymph system in June, he has been receiving chemotherapy treatment at Mount Vernon’s Chemotherapy Suite since July.
The councillor for Woodside Stanborough, in Garston, has received two of the six treatments that are scheduled, with plans to undergo radiotherapy after his chemotherapy is completed in late October.
He described his experience of chemotherapy so far as leaving him “feeling groggy for five to seven days afterwards as well as being fatigued for a long time.”
However, he was full of praise for hospital staff, saying: “The staff are wonderful and make the experience a more positive one.”
He urges all men over 50 with a family history of prostate cancer to ask their doctor for a prostate-specific antigen blood test as symptoms can go undetected.
"Symptoms for prostate cancer can be non-existent and it is known as a 'silent killer', and if someone is experiencing mild symptoms then don’t dismiss these as a sign of getting older but go see your doctor," he added.
Mr Williams also pointed out there is plenty of information online on Prostate Cancer UK’s website, which shares information about the disease. He advised those with prostate cancer to check out the local Friends of Prostate Sufferers support group which he has become involved with.
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Prostate Cancer affects one in eight men in the UK, and diagnosis has tripled in the last eight years, particularly after BBC’s Breakfast TV presenter Bill Turnbull passed away from prostate cancer last year.
You can visit the Prostate Cancer UK website here and the Friends of Prostate Sufferers support group here.
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