A pie, a pint and lifesaving advice

VOLUNTEERS at the Little Haven in Forth are urging men to drop in for a pie, a pint, some preening and a chance to get information on prostate cancer.

With March being Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, the volunteers have been inviting local men along to the Haven to get information on the disease, which kills 10,000 men a year in Britain.

Little Haven co-ordinator Karin Hynes said: “What we are trying to do is to raise awareness of the disease, let people know the symptoms and show that if it is caught early it can be treated.

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“The main thing is that if you have any symptoms go and see your doctor and do not be embarrassed about it.

“Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men so we have to make more men - particularly older men - aware of the symptoms.”

Over 19,000 men are currently living with prostate cancer in the UK, with one in nine contracting it during their life time.

Peter McCallum, who lives in Forth, was diagnosed with the disease five months ago. He has completed 37 radiotherapy sessions over a seven week period and is now, thankfully, on the road to recovery.

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He said: “It was my wife who said that I should go to the doctors but I’m now glad that I did.

“I had to go into the Beatson in Glasgow and it was hard but it had to be done.

“I think people have come along to the Little Haven to learn more about prostate cancer and I think that’s a very good thing.”

He compared it to the old days, when cancer was only whispered about.

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Little Haven volunteer Archie Finlayson is urging more men to come to the centre.

He added: “We are trying to get more men coming along to see some of the services that we provide and there is plenty for men to do here.”

Check out www.spotcancerearly.com

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