Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

To mark Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, the President of the Methodist Conference, the Revd Richard Andrew, has released a powerful video telling the story of his recent cancer diagnosis, his treatment and how his faith has sustained him throughout. 

His cancer was discovered after he was offered a PSA test (prostate-specific antigen) as part of a routine medical last April. The scans and biopsies that followed showed prostate cancer and the initial diagnosis was not good.

“I wanted to share my story. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer affecting men, with 60,000 people diagnosed and more than 12,000 dying from it annually in the UK. Had it not been for an early diagnosis, I could have been one of those men.”  

“I had no symptoms”, says Richard. “But I decided to have the test when I was offered it as part of a routine medical. A few days later, the GP called saying that she had concerns. My PSA level was 440. Most men my age, I'm 61, typically have a PSA of between one and four. Anything between four and ten is considered a cause for further investigation. A reading of 440 was off the scale.”

During a meeting with his consultant, Richard was told that he may only have a few years to live but a review of a second set of scans showed that the cancer should be treatable and survivable. 

“In those early days, I felt as though I was travelling with a shadow beside me at all times. It was a period of deep anxiety, made more complex as I was about to be installed as the new Methodist President. I had planned to write my conference address, hoping it would be as fresh and prayerfully grounded as possible. Instead, I found myself in the midst of one of the most significant challenges of my life. 

Sharing the news of his diagnosis with his adult children was difficult. “When you're speaking to your children, you're conscious of the pain that they're feeling. There's nothing more painful for a parent than thinking about the pain that your children might be experiencing.” 

“I am deeply grateful for the extraordinary care of the doctors and nurses, especially the team at James Cook Hospital, as my treatment continues. 

Richard’s cancer journey has been a spiritual journey too. “I’ve come to see that healing is far broader than physical recovery. I am profoundly grateful that my cancer appears to be fully treatable. I thank God for that, and I thank the many people who have surrounded me with love.  

“I consider myself lucky to have had my cancer caught early. For anyone who has received a diagnosis, I want to offer this simple reminder, you are not alone. I believe that God is in the midst of it all—even in the darkest moments.  

“If you are offered a PSA test, please take it.  If you are over the age of 50, ask for one. If you have symptoms, such as going to the toilet too often or struggling to go, ask for a check-up.