"Around 2,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in the West Midlands each and every year, and sadly about 815 will probably die from. Nationally more than 21,000 who were diagnosed last year and less than half will survive for five years. These figures are in stark contrast to the survival rate in America. The Prostate Cancer Support Association believes that many of these deaths could be prevented if men had access to relevant information and were given the right to early detection. Now for the next hour I am going to be talking to a panel of distinguished guests, and we need your calls because without your calls we are sitting here talking to each other, and however pleasant that might be we would rather involve you as well on 0121 432 2000. First of all, can I welcome Major Ronald Ferguson. Good to see you Major Ron." Ed Doolan

"Very nice to be here, thank you very much" Major Ron

"I spoke to your daughter the other day, and it was a genuine pleasure." Ed Doolan

"So I gather, she really enjoyed it, I have spoken to her and told her that I was coming on and she really enjoyed it enormously. She wants to speak to you again, by the way." Major Ron

"That's nice. O.K I shall attend to that. Now, you Ron are Patron of the Prostate Cancer Support Association." Ed Doolan

"Correct." Major Ron

"Thank you very much. Does this mean that you have experience?" Ed Doolan

"Yes it does. I was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer in November 96 and had radiotherapy as opposed to one of the other treatments, which no doubt you will speak to Michael Wallace about, in February, March and April 97. At that time I had decided it was nothing to do with anybody else, it was completely private. As a result of the Daily Mirror getting on to it who printed an article about it, followed by the Daily Mail that I went to the absolute reverse. From my experiences and by that I mean I had no symptoms whatsoever before I was diagnosed, none whatsoever, the normal symptoms you get in the middle of the night and short flow etc, and I thought - right, from my experiences and from an annual blood test I would talk about it as much as I possibly could and will continue to do so. I have pledged my support as Patron to the Prostate Cancer Support Association, and I feel very, very strongly about the whole subject, and I don't want to take anything away from any of the other gentlemen who are experts in the subject, I am a patient in remission, I have six monthly check-ups. But my main attack, so to speak, if that is right, which it is, on the whole male population is that I am appalled at the lack of awareness of the entire prostate cancer situation. I'm absolutely adamant, and I know that Michael Wallace will talk about this, I'm absolutely adamant that we should have the same type of screening for men as the ladies do for breast cancer and cervical cancer, perhaps a little more complicated, but I don't see why it should be. And of course, we desperately need more money for research and Roy Nixon will talk about that, but at the moment when you have a sort of figure of something like 14 million that the government are giving to AIDS research, about 12 million they are giving to breast cancer and cervical cancer research, and something like œ200,000 approximately for prostate cancer, which doesn't make any sense at all when prostate cancer happens to be the number two killer as far as the men are concerned. We have all got to wake up in a big way." Major Ron

"O.K, thank you for that introduction, and gentleman if you have any questions at all, they will become apparent as the show goes on, but at this stage you know the number, 0121 432 2000. As I thought, you are being remarkably quiet but it is early days yet. Now we have got Roy Nixon from the Association, hi Roy." Ed Doolan

"Good Morning" Roy Nixon

"And your involvement is what - fundraising?" Ed Doolan

"No, I am not a fundraiser, no like Ron I was diagnosed myself with prostate cancer in my case nine years ago, in my case a pretty advanced form of prostate cancer which had spread to the lymph nodes and to the bowel, I am still here, fortunately, despite some pessimistic progonoses earlier on, I am actually involved in supporting men and their familes, and I think we have to acknowledge that although only men get prostate cancer, it doesn't only affect us men, it also affects the whole of our familes and the community that we live in. So we are very much involved in offering support and information." Roy Nixon

"Michael Wallace is a Consultant at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital here in Birmingham, he is a specialist in the treatment of urological cancers, welcome," Ed Doolan

"Hello" Michael Wallace

"And your message is simply?" Ed Doolan

"I think the most important message for the public is that if we want to detect prostate cancer when it can be cured, we have got to find it, we can't wait for it to present with symptoms. What we want to do is we want to find the early cancers, before it has spread out of the prostate so that we can cure them. Last week we carried out quite a big survey of all the newly-diagnosed prostate cancers in the UK. We had over 9,000 cases and 22% presented when the disease had already spread to the bones outside the prostate, and is therefore not curable. Only about half were detected at a stage where it could be cured, and I have run a clinic at the QE for the last five years for diagnosing prostate cancer, and in those five years we haven't seen any trends towards diagnosing the disease earlier, so I think we must be much more active about detecting early prostate cancer that can be cured." Michael Wallace

"That I am going to come to in just a moment. Eddie Bowcott, as well, you are helping to raise awareness as well and helped in putting this programme together so thank you for that." Ed Doolan

"Yes, well I am involved with the technical side of this project, I am a Birmingham guy and I personally have only become involved over the last few months through Major Ronald and I decided that we are going to give all our technological support from Cyberteam in Birmingham for presenting a website and I personnally, since I have become aware, I am not a victim of the disease, but very nervous of it like I think many other men will be and are and that is where I come into it. I want to help them produce enough information to make the public aware." Eddie Bowcott

"Let's get stuck in, I'm going to get stuck in with you Michael because you are the Doctor. The other three, two are patients and one is a supporter. Let's get stuck in medically. We have a lot of blokes listening to us today and a lot of wives listening today. What should we be looking for, or should we even be looking for it at all, should we be getting a test at a certain age? Let's get stuck in." Ed Doolan

"O.K. I think firstly prostate cancer does occur in mainly older men, older is when you get to about the age of 50, then the incidence of prostate cancer starts rising. We do -" Michael Wallace

Roy Nixon, "Can I just come in there Michael and say that I was actually 45 when I was diagnosed and I do know that there are an increasing number of younger men being diagnosed. Certainly the disease does seem to be getting younger, for those in their forties the important thing is if you have got a family history. Those with a family history, by that I mean a brother, father or uncle who has prostate cancer, your risks are higher and you should certainly start your screening tests at a younger age. Also the African Caribbean races are more likely to get prostate cancer we think, and it is probably worthwhile them starting their screening tests at a younger age."

"So our black listeners who have just had to go through half an hour of sickle cell anaemia are now being told that you are more prone to this than anything else, it is a hell of a bloody day for you! Alright, at about 45, 50ish we should go to the doctor and say can I have a test, what is the test?" Ed Doolan

"The test is a blood test, they take some blood and that is tested for a substance in the blood called prostate specific antigen or PSA." Michael Wallace

"So they can tell that straightaway?" Ed Doolan

"Yes, well it will take a day or so." Michael Wallace

"So it's a blood test, you see this is the first thing that blokes will think and whose who have no experience as myself, who has had no experience you think, oh the prostate, what does that mean, I'm going to go in there, they are going to slip on the old rubber glove, and they are going to start messing around with this, messing around with that, but you are saying no, they will take a bit of blood." Ed Doolan

"Yes. A blood test is probably the single most important test for detecting prostate cancer, the examination of a prostate is probably secondary, but should still be done." Michael Wallace

"O.K., that is blood test is number one." Ed Doolan

"Yes" Michael Wallace

"O.K. fine. Is there anything we should be looking for, is there a change in our behaviour which means, it doesn't mean that you have got cancer but it means maybe you should go and have a look at it?" Ed Doolan

"Well a lot of men develop urinary symptoms as they get older, probably about a third of men when they get above fifty they start developing urinary symptoms. That means that they pass urine more often, they get up in the night, have difficulty starting, get slower, have difficulty emptying their bladder, they have to go quickly, they have to dash to the toilet. Any of those symptoms indicate that the bladder is having trouble emptying and they need to be assessed, so they should report to the doctors." Michael Wallace

"So if you are peeing more than you used to, is that the message?" Ed Doolan

"Yes" Michael Wallace

"If you are peeing more than you used to, then go and ask your doctor for a blood test. As simple as that?" Ed Doolan

"Yes" Michael Wallace

"So what is all the fuss about?" Ed Doolan

"Well," Michael Wallace

"If it is as simple as that, what is all the fuss about? Ron?" Ed Doolan

"In my particular case I have to say, and this is one of the things that I tried to get over, I had no symptoms of any sort whatsoever before I was diagnosed. Therefore, fortunately, I have had blood tests, complete blood tests through BUPA at the Hampshire Clinic for the last 25 years the last one I had was November 1995 before I was diagnosed, a year later the count was too high, suspicious, I had a biopsy and all the normal DRE which is Digital Rectal Examination which you have talked about. The point is, I had no symptoms whatsoever, neither have I had any symptoms since, and if I hadn't had that annual blood test at my age, and I was 64 at the time, I am 68 now, then it had a big chance of spreading. And so what I have always been saying ever since is for goodness sake, if you are slightly suspicious or if you are within the danger area of age, go and have a blood test. Hopefully it will be negative and then you will be happy." Major Ron

"And then monitor yourself every how often?" Ed Doolan

"If your blood test is normal, then you probably only need to have it done once a year." Michael Wallace

"But have it done." Ed Doolan

"Yes" Michael Wallace

"Because most of us don't have it done at all." Ed Doolan

"But I wish it was as simple as that, Michael, I really do. So many men are going along to the GP, they are saying that they have symptoms and the GP is referring to the Department of Health Guidelines that were issued, what three or four years ago, and they are saying that they are not allowed to offer screening, in other words they are not allowed to do the test. We also hear of a good number of GP's where men will go along and they will say I am up several times in the night for a pee, I've got backache, I have got a father or a brother who has got prostate cancer and the GP will often say, well no I am exaggerating, will sometimes say, I will give you something for your lumbago. We need to educate not only men, not only women, but we also need to educate GP's, we need to educate people in the medical profession as well." Roy Nixon

"We have got a number of pretty assertive guys listening to the show now, because it is that sort of programme. What will happen after this programme, maybe this afternoon is a lot of you will pick up the phone to your doctor and say I want the test. Now is that recommended, is that what we should be doing?" Ed Doolan

"I think if they are concerned and particularly if they have got any symptoms and if they understand the meaning of the test and what might happen afterwards, then they should not be denied this test. Unfortunately, I would quite agree with what has just been said, there are areas of the country where the GP's are actively discouraged from doing the test." Michael Wallace

"I might add, and Roy might correct me, but I think it actually came from you initially, but the cost of a PSA test is about £15, which if you go and have it privately you pay your £15. When you go along to the National Health GP etc, you don't get, or he doesn't get the £15 from the Government for doing the PSA test and I have heard, certainly true stories about this that the GP doesn't get it, and of course they don't want do the test, which of course is absolutely wrong, 100%." Major Ron

"I have made a note, listening to you blokes talking, I have made a note in my diary here this afternoon to phone the doctor and have a PSA test. Why? Because I am 58, and I pee more often than I used to five years ago overnight. I am going to go and have a test and that's the end of it, and Charlie, if you are listening, I will be phoning at half-past four. That will surprise you." Ed Doolan

"There is another symptom that men should look for as well, and that is blood in the semen. That is also another indication that there is problem. And I think it is also fair to say at this point that we're talking about prostate cancer, which is the extreme of the problem that can go wrong with the prostate. I am sure Michael will agree that there are other things that can go wrong with the prostate which although they may not be that easy to clear up, are not as serious as prostate cancer." Roy Nixon

"Let's go to our listeners who would like to talk to us in the studio, Major Ronald Ferguson, Roy Nixon, Dr Michael Wallace and Eddie Bowcott is with us as well, supporting us all, hello Roy?" Ed Doolan

"Hello there" (Roy a listener)

"He is on the Aston expressway, hello Roy?" Ed Doolan

"How are you?" Roy

"O.K. son, let's have it" Ed Doolan

"Well I've got prostate cancer and I found out in January about this prostate cancer, but previously I was being treated for a benign growth, which I didn't know about although I was getting treatment for it, with tablets. One thing lead to another, I mean to say I've been going on now since 1952 since I have had waterworks problems, I have been going to the doctor's on and off but in the end they sent me to Good Hope Hospital which I live around the corner from, and I reckon I was treated very, very well at Good Hope and also at the cancer centre at Queen Elizabeth, which I have got to attend next Thursday, a week tomorrow." Roy (listener)

"What's your question Roy, or are you just briefing us?" Ed Doolan

"Well, I do get a bit worried, I go a bit inward about all this to myself, I try to keep a cheerful face for the family, there is part of the family, youngsters, that don't know about it, I have kept it from them sort of thing. But I reckon this PSA test, everyone should have it, what you have just been discussing, because the only reason I found out was that my PSA was going up all the while." Roy

"Mike, anything you can say, anything you can say to Roy? He is off to hospital next week, he has got concerns." Ed Doolan

"At the moment I am having these injections once a month, it is like a hormone thing or something which goes into your stomach and attaches to your stomach and I have been told it helps to treat the cancer from the QE, that is what they have told me. This is a pre-treatment before I have radiotherapy." Roy

"O.K. mate, well thanks for your call." Ed Doolan

"Can I just give Roy our National Helpline number and other listeners who may want it?" Roy Nixon

"Yes, sure" Ed Doolan

"It's 0845 6010766" Roy Nixon

(Caller repeats number, "Right, thank you very much, thank you very much indeed." Roy (listener)

"If you give us a ring, we will be very happy to speak to you." Roy Nixon

"I'm going to have a tattoo next week on Thursday, I don't know what that means." Roy

"Hello there. Ed, for my sins, moons ago, I was a civil servant and I could talk to anyone about anything and one of my colleagues, the senior officer came to me and he had found a very very tiny lump in one of his testes, you see, and I said the quicker the sooner. He went straightaway and saw a consultant, went in the QE and had one removed, and I think then he was about 46 or something like that, and 22 and a half years later he was on British Television and he was as fit as a fiddle. Now I would advise any man to examine themselves the same as a woman examines her breasts." Maggie (listener)

"I think you're absolutely right, Maggie, but sadly you can examine yourself for testicular cancer, not you personally but men, but of course it is much more difficult for men to examine their prostate unless you are a contortionist and you know exactly what you are feeling for. That would be extremely difficult." Roy Nixon

"Yes" Maggie (listener)

"But you are right, it is something that men need to be aware of and men need to be talking to each other about their health". Roy Nixon

"And this is important, because part of the awareness is for women, because as Major Ronald will explain probably later, women probably know more about it than men because they know when their husbands or loved ones are in and out of bed all through the night." Eddie

"Yes, Maggie, thank you very much for ringing in. I believe that the wives play a vast part in the future recovery or the future diagnosis of their husband because if on the presumption you are sharing a bed, and whether you be a girlfriend, mistress, wife or whatever it might be, if you are sharing a bed, don't tell me that you don't know that your man gets up three or four times in the night, because a man getting out of bed makes a dreadful song and dance about it, he makes a bigger one when he gets back into bed, the mattress shakes etc, etc, so you certainly know. And in the South of England, very shortly a marvellous gentleman called David Rowlands is setting up a ladies support association to encourage their menfolk to go along and to have the various tests. I think the various sort of hourly time factor is quite important to understand. I'm 68 and my consultant tells me that are getting up after about five and a half hours of sleep is about average for my age. It obviously depends how much liquid, not necessarily alcohol but liquid you put down, you drink before you actually go to sleep. That goes without saying. But, what Michael Wallace will tell you is that the older you get, the harder it is in fact for the bladder to be so concentrated. That is why you have a 19-20 year old who will go out and have several pints of beer, etc, etc and he can still sleep until midday the next day, but the older you get, the less the bladder can take. But if you are getting up three or four times in the night and you are having shortage of flow and you are going a lot during the day, well then something must be done." Major Ron.

"Can I just play devil's advocate for a minute and say it is not the responsibility of women, it is the responsibility of men to take care of their own health." Roy Nixon

"Roy I couldn't agree with you more, I couldn't agree with you more, all I am saying is that the wives must know that their men are getting up three or four times in the night, but of course it is the male responsibility to take the necessary action but they can be encouraged to do so by their wives and their girlfriends." Major Ron

"Hello, good morning to you all. I couldn't agree more with what Major Ronald Ferguson has actually just said, the reason why I am ringing up is that my husband will be 41 this year. For the last six to twelve months he has gradually got up more and more in the night. It has now got to the stage where he can be getting up about five or six times in the night, and be trying to go to the toilet for about five, ten sometimes 15 minutes in the bathroom. He is one of these who is an extremely busy man, "I haven't got time to go to the doctors, don't be silly woman", you know that sort of attitude, "there's nothing wrong, I just had too many pints last night, or I shouldn't have had that last can of beer." Helen (listener)

"Doctor?" Ed Doolan

"I think the first thing is at that age with those symptoms, that is very very unlikely to be cancer. What he has almost certainly got is that the muscles that go around the bladder neck and the prostate are not relaxing and are not allowing him to empty his bladder properly so the bladder has to work under higher pressure and doesn't empty completely. Now, usually that is quite simple to treat by tablets or a small operation, and so I think you husband has nothing to fear, the treatment is probably quite simple and very effective and he should get that -" Michael Wallace

"But he does need to see a doctor and stop messing about?" Ed Doolan

"He needs to see a doctor because his bladder and his kidneys may be at risk if he doesn't." Michael

"If he was coming to you, Michael, would you will be wanting to rule out the possibility of prostate cancer?" Roy Nixon

"Yes, I would offer him a PSA test and tell him what it was for." Michael Wallace

"O.K., we will continue our discussions in a few moments, it is newstime, it is just after 11.30." Ed Doolan

*News*

"If you've just joined us, Major Ronald Ferguson who is the patron of Prostate Cancer Support, he is a victim himself, Roy Nixon from the Prostate Cancer Support Association, also a victim, Eddie Bowcott a Birmingham businessman who is helping to raise awareness and Michael Wallace who is a consultant at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, he's got the knowledge. Jim's in Dudley, we are taking your calls, 0121 432 2000, can we move it along, gentlemen? We have a very full switchboard, so let's get through them. Yes Jim, go." Ed Doolan

"Good morning to you. I have been listening to this and I too have a similar problem where I do have to get up three or four times in the night, but I am taking medication for high blood pressure and the doctor has told me that it could be a side effect of that. I was a little bit concerned, after listening to all your comments. Would this be a possibility of a side effect, or could it be something else?" Jim (listener)

"Michael?" Ed Doolan

"I think it is unlikely to be a side effect of the medication that you are on. In general, some of the treatments for high blood pressure also help you pass water, so I think you need to ask your doctor to assess your symptoms and I think you should discuss with him if you should have a PSA test done as well." Michael Wallace

"Fellas, just write down - those of you that are at home or at work, if you are in the car it will be more difficult, but just PSA test, remember that, PSA test, and next time you are at the surgery or talking to the doctor, say PSA test. Just keep it in your head, and if we can get that out of the programme then we have done a good job today. Just keep that in your mind. O.K. Jim." Ed Doolan

"O.K. thanks." Jim (listener)

"Thanks mate. Walter's in Warmley, yes Walter?" Ed Doolan

"Good morning, Ed, good morning doctor," Walter (listener)

"Good morning" Michael Wallace

"I had my prostate cancer in 1994, I am cutting a long story short because there are a lot of people waiting. I now have a Zoladex Injection once a month at the surgery and now they tell me I am suffering from Pagett's Disease. Is that any connection with the prostate cancer doctor?" Walter (listener)

"No, the Pagett's disease is something totally different, but it does confuse things a bit because they both show up on the bone scan and you need a bone scan and x-rays to differentiate the two. But the Pagett's Disease is nothing to do with the prostate cancer." Michael Wallace

"O.K. Walter." Ed Doolan

"O.K." Walter (listener)

"Good man. Bill's in Quinton, here's Bill" Ed Doolan

"Good morning all, good morning gentlemen. Now, I had my operation some fifteen years ago, most successful, but I have been told that this can re-occur. Is this right?" Bill (listener)

"Fifteen years ago the operation you had would almost certainly have been to remove just part of the prostate." Michael Wallace

"Right" Bill

"Now, it's the inner part of the prostate that grows large, causes the obstruction and needs to be removed to improve your flow. Most of the cancers occur in the outer part of your prostate, so you may have had an operation fifteen years ago that improved the way your bladder was working, but you could still get prostate cancer." Michael Wallace

"You see, I am peeing a lot. It is just straightforward, it is the Frusemide, I don't have any problems but I am going about three times a night. I was just concerned if that was creating me a problem, or is it happening because I am on other medication? I am on Frusemide and I am wondering if that is causing it?" Bill

"It could be, it depends when you take it. I think you should get back and be re-assessed to see how well your bladder is emptying and to be checked by your doctor." Michael Wallace

"I am obliged to you." Bill

"O.K. Bill?" Ed Doolan

"Thank you."

"Good man. June Bennett in Solihull, yes June? Yes June line 12, going going gone. Frank's in South Yardley, yes Frank?" Ed Doolan

"Morning Ed" Frank (listener)

"Yes Frank?" Ed Doolan

"Well, firstly I think it is an important point you have raised that when men go to the doctor and they get this test, men should be aware that they are having the test, what it means, and what other investigations may follow. But sure, if your current medication is not improving your symptoms then go back, you need to be re-assessed. Firstly, this medication doesn't always work, and you may need other treatments such as surgery, and secondly if you have been on that treatment for a while, then something else could be happening and prostate cancer is one of the possibilities that needs to be ruled out again with you." Michael

"So I was cleared five years ago, but I could still get it now?" Frank

"Yes" Michael Wallace

"I shall go back to my doctor and tell him the problems." Frank

"Come in Ron" Ed Doolan

"Doctor, following on from that I think I am right in saying that if you do have problems with the waterworks etc, etc, it doesn't automatically mean that the word 'cancer' comes into it." Major Ron

"No, the majority of people who have got these urinary symptoms do not have cancer." Michael Wallace

"Right. O.K. thank you, bye bye Ed" Frank

"O.K. so don't chicken out of having a test because you think you are going to be told something you don't want to hear. Much better that you have the test and be told something that you do want to hear." Ed Doolan

"Alright now, Stephen, getting to you in a minute, Ken, Al and John and other calls in just a second. Talk to me a little bit, Major about the Prostate Cancer Support Association, and talk to me about how you actually keep it going because I assume it costs a bob or two?" Ed Doolan

"I am going to neatly refer that question to Roy Nixon on my left here, who runs the Prostate Support Association in the North, together with David Rowlands in the South, but Roy is the one who puts it all together, he is the one who knows about the finances, I am merely behind him to help him as much as I can." Major Ron

"O.K." Ed Doolan

"You are absolutely right, Ed, it does cost quite a lot of money and we don't get any funding, we are totally dependent on subscriptions and donations, we do have a couple of sponsors who help towards to pay part of the National Helpline that we offer and also the newsletter that we send out. Basically, we were set up by a small number of men who have Prostate Cancer who were very concerned about the lack of support that they and their families were getting and about the lack of information that they were able to access. In the Northwest we started off with just two of us, meeting in a pub from time to time and it has grown from there." Roy Nixon

"People listening today, whether they are sufferers or not or whether they have known sufferers or not, how can they help you in the work you are doing?" Ed Doolan

"I suppose money would be the biggest help, and they could certainly do that. We do use volunteers on the helpline, all our volunteers are men who have prostate cancer because we think it is very important that men ringing up speak to another man who has it. There are other medical organisations who have helplines as well, but we are the only organisation in the country that offer a man with prostate cancer talking to another man with prostate cancer. Money would always be -" Roy Nixon

"So you are looking for manpower, you are looking for money. Right, if people, maybe they would like to, we have got people listening to us now, Rotary and the Lions and the Masons and everybody, who feel they would like to put a few quid your way, or would like to have a function and put it your way to help the helpline and the home visiting and all the different things you do, is there a phone number we can call simply to say I'm here, how can we get involved?" Ed Doolan

"Certainly - the helpline is the best number to phone and I will read that number out again it is 0845 6010766. Of course, if people just wanted to send a donation then they could send it -" Roy Nixon

"Don't make it complicated. 0845 6010766 if you have got anything, even if you want to send a donation, give them a call and they will give you the address, addresses on radio are a disaster." Ed Doolan

"Are they" Roy Nixon

"0845 6010766 and if you want to put a bit of your expertise or help in any form their way, here is the number again, 0845 6010766. I have put it into the computer, it is there." Ed Doolan

"Our main emphasis is not to receive money or help, it is to give out information and support. Ron." Roy Nixon

"As you mentioned money, I think Roy should go into the facts and the figures of what prostate cancer requires from the government now, not tomorrow, not yesterday but now and the appalling difference from as we mentioned earlier, breast cancer and cervical cancer, the appalling difference in the amount of money we are getting from the government and for that matter, let's go back, previous governments, it goes back however long it is. Money hasn't been forthcoming for this, the number two killer, and Roy knows the facts and figures about this as he does the PSA far better than I, and all I know Roy is that research into Prostate Cancer is in desperate need of major donations." Major Ron

"Gentlemen why is it, and maybe you know doctor, why is it a poor relation as opposed to women's problems. Not that we don't think money should go into women's problems. But why is it a poor relation?" Ed Doolan

"I think if we look back over the last few years, before we could detect prostate cancer and treat it with intent to cure. We very often picked it up in elderly men with advanced disease, so it became associated with a disease that occurred right at the end of life, but that is not true. Nearly a third of men who present with prostate cancer are below seventy with a good ten years or twenty years life expectancy, so it was rather left as a Cinderella disease, we didn't have to bother because we knew it was mainly for older men, but that is not true. That is why it has been neglected." Michael Wallace

"But I think also another reason is that we have not argued our corner." Roy Nixon

"Well because we don't want to think about it." Ed Doolan

"We don't want to think about it, we don't want to talk about it, 89% of men don't even know where the prostate is, I knew where it was but when I was diagnosed I had no idea what its real function was, I knew very little about it, I guess most men are the same and we are perfectly happy to just bury our head in the sand and do nothing." Roy Nixon

"Exactly, and I couldn't agree with you more Roy, but of course the ladies before they brought in Breast Cancer screening, the ladies talked about it, they talk about it much more than we talk about our problems." Major Ron

"Blokes won't talk about it" Roy Nixon

"It is about time they did. And what is more, it is about time those people who can get the ear of the media started talking about it, coming out of the closet like gays coming out of the closet, let's talk about it, let's get more awareness as Eddie said." Major Ron

"Let's get a few phone calls up then, we are certainly doing some awareness today. Steve's on the mobile in Birmingham, hello Stephen" Ed Doolan

"Hello there, good morning gentleman, I recently lost my uncle to prostate cancer and I was interested in what Mr Bowcott said earlier, he said that he was going to help to highlight this problem, how does he propose to do that?" Steve (listener)

"Eddie?" Ed Doolan

"Well it is our intention to build a website that will go live today, by the way, I have got to say that Ed said that addresses on radio are a disaster, but we are going to have an address that is very easy to remember." Eddie

"This is the website one?" Ed Doolan

"And I'm going to give it to you." Eddie Bowcott

"Give it to me and I will write it down." Ed Doolan

"And it is very easy to remember. Just remember Prostatecancersupport" Eddie Bowcott

"Is that one word or three?" Ed Doolan

"And prostate cancer support is one word?" Ed Doolan

"Prostatecancersupport is one word." Eddie Bowcott

"Prostatecancersupport.org. Is that it?" Ed Doolan

".org is correct, Ed. It is one word with a .org, prostatecancersupport.org. It is remember to remember. Ed give me a little idea also a few seconds ago regarding the word PSA test, we may also, if I can get the approval of the Prostate Cancer Support Association, have a website for PSA Test too, which we will probably get that another time. Basically, people will be able to get on the website, get all the information they need, and to do with helpline and all the support." Eddie Bowcott

"You happy with that?" Ed Doolan

"Yeah - I think that is excellent news, I think the more awareness there is the better." Stephen (listener)

"Will you remember the address, because Ed says addresses over the radio are difficult and I agree." Eddie Bowcott

"But that one's easy. Prostatecancersupport.org." Ed Doolan

"I think the shorter one's even better as well, actually." Stephen

"The PSA Test?" Eddie Bowcott

"I think that one's going to be a lot easier." Stephen

"O.K. Steve" Ed Doolan

"I think they're both good, excellent, thank you." Stephen

"Let's move on. Ken's in Great Wyrley. Lost him. Al's in Marston Green Yes Al?" Ed Doolan

"My problems started in December, going to the loo a lot and after going to the doctors he diagnosed a water infection. I had a blood test done which was very high, it was 39, and then I went to see a Hospital Consultant, had too biopsies, and what they have diagnosed is prostatitis, and it is something apparently that there is not a lot of research being done into, it is apparently very bad inflammation of the prostate. All the information I can get is from the internet, actually, which they have done a lot of research in Canada and America into it, I wonder if you have got any views on it at all? I am on an antibiotic." Al (listener)

"O.K. Mike?" Ed Doolan

"I think the first thing and it is a very important point, that if you have your PSA test done, you shouldn't have an infection. A lot of men get infections because their bladders aren't emptying properly and that is what takes them to the doctor. If you have your PSA done as soon as you present, it may well be very high just because the infection is causing the inflammation in your prostate. So you need to get the infection cleared up first and then have the PSA test checked. But prostatitis, which is usually an infection in the prostate, usually responds to antibiotics but you may need a longer course of antibiotics and you also need a careful assessment of your prostate as well." Michael Wallace

"Yes, I am on a six weeks course that I am just coming to the end of now, it has cleared up slightly but not altogether." Al

"Can I ask Al, whether your doctor has suggested that you go back for another biopsy?" Roy Nixon

"Well, I've had two biopsies and I am actually under a consultant at the moment, taking these antibiotics." Al

"And has he suggested that you go back for a third one?" Roy Nixon

"I have to go back after ten weeks, these antibiotics are going on for six weeks, Dicyclioxilon." Al

"Whatever" Ed Doolan

"How many samples is he taking each time you have the biopsy?" Michael Wallace

"The first time he took two, which it was so painful I couldn't stand any more, but then I had a general anaethestic and I had six done." Al

"O.K. Al, we wish you well son, keep in touch. John's in Sparkhill, yes John." Ed Doolan

"Oh, good morning," John (sounds surprised)

"Oh I phoned a radio programme and they called me, Good God (!)" Ed Doolan

"It's like winning the lottery." Roy Nixon

"I am one of Dr Wallace's patients and he is a really good bloke, when I can see him." John

"He's alright is he?" Ed Doolan

"Anyway, if I tell you how it happened to me perhaps it might be some help to someone else. I thought I had got the flu very bad, pains all over, you know, but the worst thing that happened to me was I couldn't eat. As soon as I saw food, I was sick, so after a lot of hassle, I go and see my doctor and I say I reckon I've got a hernia here, because I've already had one, years back, and he examined me and he wouldn't commit himself." John

"Move it along John" Ed Doolan

"Oh, I beg your pardon." John

"The bottom line is?" Ed Doolan

"Well the thing is this, the only trouble I seem to have now is the pain seems to come from the groin, and what I have been on about is I reckon I've twisted my knee sometime, but otherwise I don't feel there's a lot the matter with me." John

"Well, Mike is looking forward to your next get together, it's going to be a hit. It is like an organ recital and we are only playing the lower notes. Terry is in Stourbridge, hello Terry." Ed Doolan

"Good morning Ed and gentleman. Everyone is talking about the PSA readings, but no one has mentioned what is an acceptable level in a PSA reading. The reason I am asking is I paid for a transrectal ultrasound scan about œ650 and was shown benign, six biopsies were benign. My PSA when I first went about 18 months ago was from four, and then it jumped up to a 9.5, now on the basis of that I had this transrectal ultrasound scan done and I have gone back and my PSA has a reading of 8, and it has remained at 8 for the last two PSA's that I have had done. Now, what is an acceptable level of PSA, because nobody knows?" Terry

"Well, what is a nice number?" Ed Doolan

"There isn't a single number, the problem is your PSA will go up slowly as you get older, and your prostate gets bigger or if there is any inflammation in your prostate as well as if there is any cancer. Now, the other problem is that it doesn't matter how many biopsies you take, there is no test that is going to tell you with 100% certainty that you have not got prostate cancer, so having a negative set of biopsies does not completely rule out the possibility of cancer, but it is unlikely to be a very large cancer." Michael Wallace

"I see". Terry

"Terry, this is Ronald Ferguson, can I just say something, I cannot remember what my PSA count was when I was diagnosed, quite honestly, but all I know is that when I had my first test after radiotherapy the problem I had was O.K., but we would consider doing something else if it grows at the next session, does that make sense Michael?" Major Ron

"Yes." Michael Wallace

"Well it does to me in that respect, but what I am worried about is that if it has jumped up from 4.5 to 8 and remained steady at 8 for the last two PSA's if it jumps up, should I show some concern?" Terry

"I think if your PSA goes on going up, that is a very good indication that you need to have your prostate re-assessed and possibly re-biopsied." Michael

"OK Terry? Good man." Ed Doolan

"Thank you" Terry

"Jim's in Bedworth at six minutes to twelve. Yes Jim" Ed Doolan

"Hi, yeah, can I speak to the doctor please?" Jim

"Go ahead quick" Ed Doolan

"I'm paraplegic and I have had an asphincterotomy, which means I pass water all the time anyway, so how I would I know, when you said one of the reasons of diagnosing was when you continue passing water?" Jim

"How would he know?" Ed Doolan

"You wouldn't unless somebody examined you or checked your PSA." Michael Wallace

"So you need a PSA." Ed Doolan

"So, OK, so that's the only way I can do it" Jim

"That's it Jim. Thanks for calling. Good man, Joan's in Kings Norton, Yes Joan?" Ed Doolan

"Hello, I'm sorry to bother you but I had a mastectomy on May 9th in the QE and I have my simulator on 16th July and I suppose I have got to start having radiotherapy and I'm a bit worried about it. Is there any long successes with this treatment, radiotherapy?" Joan

"I don't know how we got there, Jo, but quick answer for you anyway, Mike." Ed Doolan

"I'm sorry about this." Joan

"Certainly there are very high success rates, but it is not my field." Michael Wallace

"OK listen Joan, I think seriously love we are not qualified to handle it on this show, I don't know how you got through. What I would like you to do, sweetheart, is seriously pick up the phone to your doctor and have a word with your doctor and make sure that before you put the phone down, your doctor has explained it to you." Ed Doolan

"But can you make a plea to the government to spend more money please on cancer research." Joan

"O.K. Sweetheart" Ed Doolan

"Leave that with us" Roy Nixon

"It is coming up to four minutes to twelve. Gentlemen, I think it has been a useful hour, and if we have got anything across to the gentlemen and ladies at home it is look out for symptoms and if you are over about 45 or 50, get a PSA test anyway. Is that the bottom line doctor?" Ed Doolan

"That's good. Yes, thank you very much" Michael Wallace

"Happy with that?" Ed Doolan

"Yes, very happy" Michael Wallace

"And when your waiting list goes through the roof and you have got to employ 27 other people in your office will you be happy then?" Ed Doolan

"Well, in ten years time I want to see the mortality from prostate cancer dropping and the patients presenting much earlier" Michael Wallace

"And if people listening to us today actually do something instead of saying, oh well it can wait, then this will also help the mortality rate drop. So that's useful." Ed Doolan

"But don't wait until you have got symptoms, the cancer may be further along." Roy Nixon

"Ron, give us a final thought" Ed Doolan

"Rather than a final thought, I would like to say as patron of the prostate cancer support association how incredibly grateful we are to you for giving us this very long airing of an important subject. It is certainly the longest conversation with such an expert panel that I have ever been involved in, and we really are grateful and hope it might happen again in other areas of the country to get our message to as many people within Great Britain as we possibly can. Thank you very much indeed." Major Ron

"My pleasure. And I do hope, gentlemen, let us let time pass, but when a bit of time does pass we will have no problem in doing it again. I tell you when I would like to do it again, it will be inconvenient to all of you, I would like to do it again on a Sunday morning, we are on between 9 and 12, when we have a huge amount of guys who are at work at the moment and are not listening at the moment, and they are at home. It is the chaps in their forties and fifties who are going to be at home and if you have got a Sunday morning you can give me a time between 9 and 12, we will open up another hour for you, and we will invite calls and invite you. You are all welcome back, you name the date and I will give you the time." Ed Doolan

"Ed, I assure you that I will be here on a Sunday morning, you give us the studio and I will be here." Major Ron

"Can I make a suggestion, we have a prostate cancer coalition now and we are organising a prostate cancer awareness week for week beginning September the 11th. If we could have another session." Roy Nixon

"All you have to do is to get in touch. You have the phone number." Major Ron

"Gentlemen, Major Ronald Ferguson, Roy Nixon, Dr Michael Wallace and Eddie Bowcott, it has been an absolute pleasure." Ed Doolan