- PROSTATE CANCER SURVIVOR SPEAKS OUT
- By Nick Williams
(Health Start)
PLAYING BADMINTON with his friends, Formby man Ernie Foulder looks the picture of health. Yet the 62-year-old has survived prostate cancer and wants to use his experiences to encourage other men to talk about any concerns they have for Men’s Health Month (September).
Before he found out he had prostate cancer, Ernie had never had a day off work through ill health - up until 18 months ago, he hadn’t even had any need to see his doctor.
However, Ernie was worried about a couple of problems and went to see his GP, but it was only a “throw-away” comment he made that actually saved his life.
“It was the October 2001,” said Ernie, “when I decided to go to my doctor about a mole, a cyst on my head and to have my ears waxed. As I talked to him, I said half-jokingly that my wife had been complaining that I kept getting up to go to the toilet in the middle of the night!”
Unbeknown to Ernie at the time, the need to rush to the toilet frequently is a symptom of prostate cancer and his GP decided to examine him straightaway. A lump was discovered and a biopsy revealed that Ernie had developed prostate cancer.
Ernie, a father-of-two, said:- “I had never been prone to ill health before, let alone have to go to hospital, so it came as a big shock to realise that I actually had prostate cancer.
“No-one can ever really imagine what it is like to find out that you have cancer. I’m a happy guy, always joking, and I try not to let things get me down. But despite trying to put on a brave face I was very frightened and the experiences and emotions you go through are horrible.”
Not only did Ernie have to cope with his own shock, his wife Pat had been diagnosed with breast cancer a few years earlier.
The couple supported each other and Ernie decided to read all he could about prostate cancer.
Ernie said:- “The scary thing is that there aren’t really any symptoms other than the need to go to the toilet, difficulty to pass urine or blood in the urine. And these are things that a lot of men would probably ignore, or could even be symptoms for other things. It’s the silent killer. And if you ask a man what a PSA test is, he probably wouldn’t know. If Pat hadn’t said anything to me about going the toilet, I wouldn’t have thought anything of it and I would never have thought to go to my doctor for a PSA. But her comment saved my life.
Now I want to encourage other men to talk about their problems. A simple visit to the GP and a PSA test (a blood test) could save your life. I think men need to be more aware of prostate cancer, the symptoms to look out for and about the PSA tests. If my own experience can help save a life, then I will be happy.”
Ernie had radical surgery at Southport & Formby District General Hospital to remove the lump in February 2002 and is slowly but surely recovering. His PSA levels are good and he is back working at May Lean soft furnishings factory in Linacre Road, Bootle, where he has worked as a sales representative for 10 years. He is also keeping himself fit playing badminton, going the gym and swimming.
Sadly, his wife Pat, who he had been married to for 34 years, lost her battle with breast cancer in December, but Ernie says his two daughters and the staff at Southport & Formby DGH have been a tower of strength for him.
He said:- “I can’t praise staff enough at Southport Hospital. They gave me tremendous support and their whole attitude was brilliant. All the cancer team, including the district nurses, were so caring and always helped me look on the bright side. I was given the opportunity to join a cancer support group and I was given plenty of support and advice.”
And Ernie’s final message to others is:- “If you have any worries, go and see your GP and ask for a PSA test. Most patients who receive treatment early enough do survive. And if you find out that you do have prostate cancer, try to remain positive, don’t suffer alone, don’t bottle things up inside because it helps to talk - and never give up hope.”
Christine Sheridan, Cancer Services Manager for Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust, said:- “Men sometimes feel very embarrassed to talk about their health problems. But I would encourage men not to be afraid and to visit their GP if they have any concerns.”
Mr Gurpreet Singh, the Consultant urologist who operated on Ernie, has a simple message for men with bladder and prostate symptoms, he reiterates the fact that prostate cancer, if caught early, is curable and it is important to diagnose and treat this disease before it starts spreading.
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HISTORY ON SHOW AT LIBRARY
LIVERPOOL'S
historic Central Library is to show off its crown jewels this weekend in which some of the rarest books and architecture will be unveiled as part of the annual Heritage open days.
The collection includes the city's charters dating back to the 13th century as well as John James Audubon, the Birds of America 1827-38, one of the most valuable natural history books ever produced.
Visitors will also have the opportunity to view the William Morris Kelmscott press edition of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, said to be the finest achievement of the craft of printing and there will be original watercolours by Edward Lear on show as well as early 16th and 17th century atlases.
Guided tours will be held to unveil the secrets behind the 143-year-old library. This will include viewings of its superb neo-classical façade, the magnificent Victorian dome in the grade 2* listed Picton Reading Room, the ornate Edwardian Hornby Library and the atmospheric Oak Room. They will take place on Saturday, September 13th at 10am, Midday, 2pm and 4pm and Sunday 14th September at Midday and 2pm.
In addition, there will be talks by local architectural historian Joseph Sharples on Sunday at 1pm and 3pm about his forthcoming edition of The Pevsner Architectural Guide to Liverpool.
The Open Days form part of a national event co-ordinated by the Civic Trust highlighting Britain's architectural treasures from September 13 and 16 including Liverpool Town Hall.
Councillor Warren Bradley, Executive Member for Leisure and Culture, said:-
''We are privileged to have such an amazing and breathtaking heritage in Liverpool.'
'This weekend is a great opportunity to look behind the scenes at what in effect are Liverpool's cultural headquarters, as well as one of the best and most historic libraries in the country.''
- Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Hall Events
- September to December 2003
Limited competitiontickets available for:-
Saturday 13 September, 7.00pm
The Scottish Tattoo
Sunday 28 September, 7.30pm
Nitin Sawhney
Wednesday 1 October, 7.30pm
Pure Opera
Friday 3rd October, 7.30pm
Fanfare Ciocârlia
Friday 10th October, 7.30pm
The Waterboys
Sunday 12 October, 7.30pm
Keith Emerson & The Nice
Friday 17 October, 7.30pm
Terry Callier
Friday 24 October, 8.00pm
Stacey Kent
Tickets, Ł15
Saturday 25 October,7.30pm
The Christians
Sunday 2nd November, 7.30pm
An Audience with John Sergeant
Tuesday 4th November, 7.30pm
Zaji – Chinese Acrobatic Circus
Wednesday 12 November, 8pm @ The Picket
Manecas Costa
Sunday 16 November, 7.30pm
Denys Baptiste
Let Freedom Ring!
Friday 21 November, 8.00pm
Bjorn Again
Friday 21 November, 9pm @ The Picket
Women of Cape Verde
Monday 1 December, 7.30pm
Maximum R ‘n’ B
Tuesday 2 December, 7.30pm
Sinatra Gala
Friday 5 December, 7.30pm
The Best of the West End
Saturday 6 December, 7.30pm
Anu´na
Friday 12 December, 8.00pm
The Bootleg Beatles
Friday 12 December, 8pm@ Southport Arts Centre
Sam Mangwana
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