Men urged to join Taking the P run (From York Press)

Men urged to join Taking the P run

9:40am Friday 8th June 2012 in Fundraising fun By Press reporter

MIKE Jewell was diagnosed with prostate cancer following a routine blood test.

But he always believed he could beat the cancer which annually affects 40,000 men in the UK and claims the lives of 10,000.

And he has just signed up for the R U Taking the P? charity run in York to help fund research into prostate and other male cancers to celebrate receiving the all-clear.

Mike, 64, who suffers from arthritis, was booked in for a regular check up in 2009 when his doctor suggested he had a prostate check because he was over 60.

He said: “The blood test gave a figure of 22, which is quite high seeing the norm is four to five for someone my age.” He underwent a biopsy which revealed he had four pieces of cancer on the prostate.

“I asked the doctor how long I had to live and he told me it was more than five years,” said Mike.

He was offered either injections or tablets, but opted for the latter because of the risk of brittle bones with the injections.

“I chose the tablet route, but the doctor warned me that I would grow breasts. I said ‘that’s handy because I am playing the dame in panto in November’,” said Mike, who is a member of TadChorale in Tadcaster.

He is currently rehearsing for a concert at the Riley-Smith Hall in Tadcaster on June 30 and July 1, when he will be singing the solo Bring Him Home from Les Miserables.

Following the biopsy, Mike underwent a month of tablets before 35 20-minute radiotherapy sessions at St James’s Hospital in Leeds. He was given the all- clear in April.

He said: “It was a magic feeling. But if that doctor hadn’t recommended a blood test in the first place the outcome could have been totally different and I might not have been here today, let alone take part in R U Taking the P.”

Urging others to have a blood test, he said: “It has been proven that the test saves two out of every 100 people. I also urge men to take part in this run which raises vital funds for research into prostate and other male cancers.”

Mike will be joined on the run on Father’s Day, June 17, by fellow TadChorale members Steve Hastings, Terry Welsh and David Binns.

To sign up for the 5k charity run, visit ycr.org.uk/rutakingthep, phone Yorkshire Cancer Research on 01423 877210, or register from 8.30am on the day at Rowntree Park.