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Tenerife Weekly - 12th July 2013 - 18th July 2013
33
Sharples in Session By John Sharples
Prostate Cancer
When I saw that TV interviewer Michael Parkinson is battling prostate cancer, the story brought back the loss of my father last year from the disease. Now that I am 50-years-old I should really be thinking about having a checkup for any signs of the condition.
Michael Parkinson has revealed that he is undergoing radiotherapy treatment after he was diagnosed October 2012. Luckily for him, his prognosis is good and he is expected to make a full recovery. The statistics show that each year 1 in 4 men who show signs of the condition will die from it. They also show that anyone whose father or brother has had the condition has a higher chance of suffering from it. So, what can we do to protect ourselves and how should we go about it? Over 40,000 men in Britain are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year and, it kills around 10,000 men annually. This is a very high figure and means that it is something that all men should be aware of! For those who are unaware, it is only men that have a prostate gland. It is about the shape and size of a walnut and its function is to make some of the fluid that carries sperm Sometimes, the cells in the prostate gland start to grow out of control and this is when cancer can develop, most commonly (but not exclusively) in men over the age of 50. In British men, this will happen to about 12% of them during
No Sir!
So! Andy Murray has won the Wimbledon Men’s Title and Prime Minister; David Cameron’s testosterone reached such dizzy heights that
their lives. It can grow quickly in some men and slowly in others. The warning signs are very difficult to spot! So what are the signs? Experts say that prostate cancer doesn’t have many common signs. If you have noticed a change that you have to get up during the night to urinate or you need to go more often during the day or you have noticed blood in your urine or semen you should go to see your doctor. These signs don’t mean that you have it but there is a possibility. Asian men are far less likely to contract prostate cancer than western men although African-Caribbean men are three times more likely to develop the cancer than white men of the same age. Nobody knows why although it is thought that diet plays a part in the disease. Nutrition experts recommend that men eat more fruit and vegetables and less
red meat. It is also believed that the more exercise we do, 30 minutes a day is recommended, the less likely we are to get the disease. Smoking and drinking haven’t been linked to Prostate cancer, but we all know that we shouldn’t really be smoking and that alcohol intake should be limited. The way prostate cancer is treated depends on the man’s age, the size of the cancer and its aggressiveness, which is graded by doctors using a method known as the Gleason score. If the cancer hasn’t spread from the gland, then treatment can either involve the complete removal of the prostate, in a procedure known as a radical prostatectomy, or radiotherapy, both of which aim to get rid of your cancer completely. It is said that you can “Eat to Beat Cancer” and there is plenty of information about this on the internet. There are various ways that men are tested for prostate cancer including blood samples and the one that stops many men from going to the doctor. This is a digital examination. Yes, it means that a doctor may have to put their finger in a delicate place, but if your life depends on it, don’t you think it would be a good idea. Remember that old saying, “Pride comes before a fall”. If my father had been for the tests, he would have been alive today. I wish Michael Parkinson all the best in his fight and I will be making my appointment for a check in the coming week.
he planned a celebratory party for the Dumblane, Scottish, British, tennis Player. The poor PM then got really excited and decided to invite Ed Milliband to the do! Following that his inner macho exploded as he announced that he would put the man who would rather support anyone but England up for a knighthood. Yes, it is great that he won; yes he played a great game. Yes he is Scottish. Yes he is British. No ....... he shouldn’t be knighted. There are people out there saving lives on a daily basis. Knight those people and stop cheapening our great British awards with celebrities and sportsmen. Game, Set and Match!
Peggy Is Back
W
hy on e a r t h Barbara Windsor is going back into “Eastenders is beyond me”. She must be bored or maybe she has seen the drivel that the BBC is churning out on an almost daily basis.
It won’t take long before she yells “Get outa my pub” or “Ello Darlin’”. Thankfully, she is only returning for a very short spell. I would be far happier if they were announcing a new Carry On movie.
She was a treat in those, but as a straight actress, she leaves me wishing she would do that funny giggly laugh that
we all love her for. It’s comforting to know that a 75 year old woman can still get a job in modern Britain.