7:28am Friday 16th November 2007
By Philip Hennessey
A CAMPAIGNER is calling for the Government to pay as much attention to cancer in men as they do in women.
Gary Steele, 67, of Cherry Crescent, is frustrated that millions of pounds are spent on breast cancer research while treatment for prostate cancer is decades behind other countries.
He said: "Women stand up and be counted and get out there and raise awareness about breast cancer and fair play to them for it.
"We men just bury our heads in the sand and don't talk about it and that has to change.
"I don't want to be a hero but am I the only one with prostate cancer?
"Other men need to stand up and be counted and talk about this."
In America only one in 35 men diagnosed with prostate cancer die from the disease but in the UK it is one in three.
Gary, who is chairman of Leighton Hospital Prostate Cancer Support Group, said: "We are so far behind other nations it is a disgrace.
"Every year there are 8,000 men dying needlessly and it is because we don't raise awareness of it.
"The other day I was in the gents toilet of a supermarket and there was a sign asking for support for breast cancer.
"I don't want to say breast cancer research isn't a worthy cause but it does seem to be more fashionable to support that than prostate cancer."
Gary, who is chairman of Leighton Hospital Prostate Cancer Support Group, has already raised more than £50,000 to train surgeons to carry out prostate operations and buy equipment. He is now hoping to raise £15,000 to buy an isurgical simulator which surgeons can practise with and would reduce the five hour operations by half.
He said: "It is a fact that every man, if they live long enough, will get prostate cancer so this effects every one of us. "People need to know about prostate cancer and I am no longer going to sit back and let thousands of men die."
To make a donation towards the appeal or for more information on the isurgical simulator or the support group call Gary Steele on 01606 553097.
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