A cancer survivor has taken part in a publicity stunt to raise support and awareness for men affected by the disease.
Phill Coates, 62, from St Albans, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2014 and had his prostate removed to stop the cancer from spreading.
During his treatment, he relied on the Prostate Cancer UK's specialist nurses to help get him through his diagnosis and since 2015 has taken part in their charity events to help give back.
Mr Coates decided to take part in a charity publicity stunt on May 15 to help raise awareness by standing in a large jar in London Southbank with other men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
11,500 men die from prostate cancer in the UK each year and the savings jar stunt took part in the charity’s new campaign,‘Men we are with you’, to show their support for men who are fighting the disease.
Mr Coates said: “I visited my Doctor as I felt I had similar symptoms as my father who had been diagnosed with an enlarged prostate shortly beforehand.
“My doctor suggested a Prostate Specific Antigen blood test as a precaution to check whether there was cancer present.
“As my PSA reading was high this led to scans and a biopsy and later in 2014, I had surgery to remove the prostate.
“The charity’s support was invaluable to me and my family from the first time I contacted them after I had my PSA test, in answering questions relating to scans and biopsy and enabling me to talk with other men who had been in the same situation.”
Mr Coates added: “It’s important to put across the message men are worth saving through all media channels, firstly to raise awareness of the disease and secondly to let men know that Prostate Cancer UK are there to support them.
“I’m certain it will make people think more about prostate cancer and how lives can be saved my early intervention.
“It will also raise awareness of the charity, their role in assisting men, their families and the ongoing research that the Charity funds which hopefully one day will eradicate the disease."
Prostate Cancer UK will be running a series of March for Men walking events this summer. For more information, visit prostatecanceruk.org/get-involved/march-for-men.
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