SWINDON CANCER APPEAL: SWINDON councillor Mike Bawden is living proof that early detection of cancer saves lives.

The leader of Swindon Council's Conservative group was diagnosed with prostate cancer 18 months ago.

But following a three-month course of radiotherapy he was given the all-clear by doctors.

Now, though, Coun Bawden's life has been affected by another type of cancer.

He said: "My aunt died of bone cancer in January. The disease had spread into her lungs. She was visited by a Macmillan nurse and it was a great support to both her and the family around.

"They come in to prepare people for what's going to happen and help take away fears.

"I didn't have the care of Macmillan nurses but I am totally supportive of what they do."

In August 2001 doctors found that Mr Bawden's prostate was slightly enlarged during a routine check-up.

As a precaution he started to have six monthly prostate specific antigen blood tests, but after three years his worst fears were realised when it was confirmed he had prostate cancer.

He said: "The prostate cancer was picked up initially because I paid for private treatment.

"I was lucky it was caught at such an early stage.

"More must be done to get men aware that things like this can happen and of course that they can also be successfully treated if detected early enough.

"The problem is that the GP part of the medical profession is only just beginning to realise that men want a similar service with prostate as women have with breast screening.

"Men should be insisting that they get the same sort of screening service, particularly when they get to 50.

"I don't believe the average bloke is as switched on as the average woman is when it comes to health issues. Men ought to be looking to the GPs and the Government to treat them in exactly the same sort of way that women are.

"The longer men live the more likely it is they will suffer a prostate problem and regular health check-ups and screening will help a lot of them prevent the condition from causing them problems or becoming fatal."

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