Man, 67, hit cancer diagnosis after noticing change in peeing habit

Brian Cameron, 67, from Torridge, had his life turned upside down after seeing his GP about his minor symptoms in September 2020. The quick-thinking doctor ordered an urgent scan which revealed a tumour in Brian’s prostate – a walnut-sized gland which forms part of the male reproductive system. Brian, a retired motor mechanic and gardener, said: ‘The only symptoms I had were going to wee more during the day. Doctors were keeping an eye on my PSA level anyway because of my family history.”The PSA test is a blood test to help detect prostate cancer. The test measures the level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in your blood.Brian’s father had stomach cancer, mum had bowel and breast cancer, and grandma had breast cancer, so the prospect of cancer loomed large in his mind.’We got a new doctor at my surgery and I was talking to her about some back ache and she told me to go for a scan right away. They didn’t find anything but the consultant wasn’t happy and sent me for a biopsy,” Brian explained.’I wasn’t really concerned at this point because I didn’t think they would find anything. When they called me to tell me I had cancer it hit me like a bombshell.”READ MORE: Acholic stools are ‘the most common’ sign of pancreatic cancer in ‘initial’ stages Cancer: Brian Cameron’s only prostate cancer symptom was peeing more than usual (Image: Getty Images)In the months that followed, Brian ran into problems. ‘The NHS has been very, very good, I’ve got no problems with them at all – until it came to treatment.’After being placed under “active surveillance” for 12 months, it was discovered Brian’s cancer had started to grow and it was time to look at what could be done.The only treatment options offered to him on the NHS were radiotherapy and a radical prostatectomy, both of which carry the possibility of side effects including incontinence.So Brian and his wife Carol sought other options, eventually landing on proton therapy – a type of radiotherapy which uses pencil-point precision to attack cancerous cells while sparing healthy, surrounding tissue, thus hopefully reducing side effects.The couple were pleased when they discovered the Rutherford Centre in Newport, South Wales, which could offer the treatment privately.But Brian was dealt a devastating blow when, just two weeks before it was due to begin, he was informed the company would be going into liquidation and could no longer continue with his treatment plan.He said: ‘I’d had a spacer [a device designed to reduce side effects] fitted but I got a phone call one lunchtime to say they couldn’t continue with the treatment.DON’T MISSDry shampoo recalled over cancer-causing chemicals [ADVICE]Polyuria ‘most common’ diabetes symptom [INSIGHT]Avoid four drinks to lower blood clot risk [TIPS] Brian’s story: Brian underwent treatment at a sophisticated facility in Prague (Image: Getty Images) Cancer: Most common signs and symptoms of cancer (Image: Getty Images)Urging all men to pay attention to symptoms and get tested if they have any concerns, Brian said: ‘There’s men out there living with it and they don’t have a clue.’There are currently two proton therapy centres in England – one in Manchester and one in London – but neither treat prostate cancer.Prostate cancer – everything you need to knowAccording to Mr Petr Holy, a consultant urological surgeon, prostate cancer affects around one in eight men.”In the early stages prostate cancer does not usually present symptoms so knowing your own risk factor is really important.”Age is a risk factor, with the condition mainly affecting men over the age of 50. A family history of the condition can also put you at a greater risk.”If you have any concerns it’s really important to speak to your GP who can discuss your risk factor, any symptoms you might be experiencing, and what to do next.”While there is no national screening service for prostate cancer, men can request a PSA test from their GP which measures the level of prostate specific antigen (PSA) in the blood and can be an indicator of changes in the prostate.