TV presenter and broadcaster Bill Turnbull said his decision to make his prostate cancer diagnosis public and inspire men to get tested was the “one useful thing” he had done in his life.
Bill, 66, died peacefully at home on Wednesday August 31 after a "challenging and committed fight against prostate cancer". Tributes have flooded in from colleagues.
The former BBC Breakfast presenter was diagnosed in 2017 having not seen a GP for four years. He announced he had prostate cancer in March 2018, following comic Stephen Fry doing the same a month earlier.
Read more: Tributes for BBC man Bill Turnbull who has died aged 66
Bill and Stephen's decisions to go public encouraged men of a similar age to get screened.
The NHS' National Disease Registration Service has said : "Our findings show a marked increase in the number of prostate cancers diagnosed from the time of Fry’s and Turnbull’s announcements of their own diagnoses."
Former NHS England boss Simon Stevens said the 'Fry and Turnbull effect' would save lives as he announced extra cancer funding in 2018.
He said: “A debt of gratitude is owed to Bill Turnbull and Stephen Fry for the work they have done to urge men to seek medical advice if they think something isn’t right. The Turnbull and Fry effect could help save lives.
“This additional investment will help ensure the NHS can manage this jump in demand, so that all people with suspected cancer are tested and treated quickly.”
The charity Prostate Cancer UK said the disease kills more than 11,500 men in the UK every year.
What is prostate cancer?
The prostate is a walnut-sized gland found in men. It sits beneath the bladder and surrounds the urethra and its main function is to produce a thick white fluid that creates semen when mixed with the sperm produced by the testicles.
Prostate cancer means its cells start to divide and grow uncontrollably, sometimes spreading throughout the body.
Roughly one in every eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, according to Prostate Cancer UK, making it the most common male cancer in the UK.
What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?
Symptoms will usually not appear until the cancer is large enough to press against the urethra.
If you find yourself needing to urinate more often, having to wait longer before you can pass urine, or urinating involuntarily after going to the toilet, it is a good idea to get checked by a doctor, although Prostate Cancer UK says it is more likely to be a sign of a very common non-cancerous problem called an enlarged prostate, or another health problem.
Other warning signs include erectile dysfunction, blood in urine, weight loss or any new and unexplained lower back pain.
Who is most at risk of prostate cancer?
The NHS website says the risk of prostate cancer increases as you get older, with most cases developing in men aged 50 or older.
Black men are more likely to be affected, while it is less common among Asians. Recent research suggests obesity increases the risk.
How is prostate cancer diagnosed?
After discussing symptoms, a doctor is likely to ask for a urine sample to be checked for infection and a blood sample to test the level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA).
A digital rectal examination, when a gloved finger is inserted into the bottom, can be used to examine the prostate. The GP will assess the risk of prostate cancer based on these tests as well as age, family history and ethnic group.
If a patient is at risk, the NHS website says they should be referred to hospital to discuss the options of further tests which could include an MRI scan or a biopsy. Men aged 50 can request a PSA test from their GP but the NHS website says there is no national screening programme for prostate cancer in the UK because the test is not always accurate.
How is prostate cancer treated?
Some people will not require immediate treatment and will be monitored. This can be because the disease is in its early stages and is not causing symptoms or because it is unlikely to affect their natural lifespan because of their age.
This may include having regular PSA tests, MRI scans and sometimes biopsies to ensure any signs of progression are found as early as possible.
There are two key ways to treat prostate cancer: radiotherapy or surgery to remove the prostate. Cancer Research UK says more than 85% of men will survive their prostate cancer for five years and almost 80% for 10 years or more.
Who else has had prostate cancer?
Musician Jools Holland revealed earlier this year that he had been successfully treated for prostate cancer after a diagnosis in 2014. He performed at a concert organised by Prostate Cancer UK alongside Sir Rod Stewart, who was given the all-clear in 2019, two years after diagnosis.
“Guys, you’ve got to really go to the doctor,” Sir Rod urged ahead of his performance.
Stephen Fry said he was “stunned” after finding he had prostate cancer in 2018, but recovered because his disease was spotted early.
In April, former Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal revealed numerous radiation treatments had cured his cancer.
“I had to wait five or six months to see if it had done its job,” he said. “It did.”
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