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Around 48,000 men are diagnosed with
Prostate cancer every year.

My name is Martin Borley from Tanby Pools and in December
last year at the age of 53, I was one of them.

I had the usual niggle at my age, of high blood pressure - a symptom of running a successful company, but I considered myself fit. I swam a mile every day and cycled 50 miles regularly plus every year I cycle 300 miles in 3 days for the O2E (Ordinary to Extraordinary) Charity. 

I had no symptoms at all – many men do not! 

I have an MOT with the Doctor every year – call me paranoid, but I like to know how naughty I can be and get away with it! I noticed my PSA test in June was above the normal parameter at 3.5 and pointed it out. Another test was booked for 6 months later at which time it was found to be 4.7. An MRI scan found “something” that needed further checks with a biopsy. This confirmed the scary news that I had prostate cancer in 2 places but thankfully contained within the prostate and at a Gleason level of 3.3 each.

In the words of the Consultant, “If I was to get cancer this
is the one I would want”.

Getting Cancer is one thing, but getting it “there” is a bit of a man, mind warp. Men don’t talk about their “bits” and as ridiculous as it sounds the thought of all the probing and inspecting was rather off putting. It’s like a punch in the gut and all sorts of emotions swirl around in your head when you hear these words, not the least, how to tell thechildren. I didn’t want to read about it, it was too raw, so my wife Delyse researched it all and we were able to sit our son and daughter down together, with the diagnosis, the treatment options and the procedure I had chosen.

I am one of the lucky ones – I caught it early! It’s simple really – if you deny you have it, or ignore it, you are not lucky. Around 12,000 men die in the UK every year (33 a day), many of these are preventable.

I was offered 3 types of treatment. Radical prostatectomy, external radiation or internal radiation called Brachytherapy, a relatively new treatment which involves firing radioactive titanium seeds directly into the cancer cells in the prostate. I choose the latter because of my early diagnosis and my cancer had not spread. The procedure was performed in April and I am recovering well. There have been some dark moments due to the medication post - surgery and tough times during the recovery period but with the support of family and brilliant members of the Tanby Team, we are getting through it. 

Work was a worry, do I tell clients, do I tell architects that we work with or would they think I wouldn’t see the end of the project? I chose to share this with clients and design teams and the amount of support from every one of them had me feeling extremely humbled and appreciated.

A year prior to this, I had been speaking with our son Vincent, about joining the business - with his skills picked up from 5 years of living and working in China this would take our Construction side of the business to a new level. He joined the business in January which has been a great help, as I obviously could not attend meetings and although completely new to the business, he has been able to liaise with both existing and new clients, who have been incredibly understanding about not getting an answer straight away. 

Deciding to be totally open about my illness, it is amazing how many of them have been personally touched by different forms of cancer. 

I have just had my 3 month check-up and am pleased to say that my PSA levels have gone down and all heading in the right direction. I get very tired but I am feeling good, although I am still unable to cycle any distance. My Professor has said I am allowed to try short rides – “Try it and see, as you will soon know if you have done too much”. I have another check-up in 3 months and thereafter 6 monthly for the next 5 years at which time I hope to get the all clear. I have to carry a card in my wallet advising that I have had radioactive treatment and that I could set off airport alarms – I am officially the Titanium man!

The Tanby Team are all keen to support Prostate Cancer UK because -

• You don’t have to be over 70 to get Prostate
  Cancer.
• You don’t necessarily get any symptoms – by the
  time you do it’s probably too late!
• You don’t have to be unfit – professional
  sportsmen get it.
• Men whose father or brother have had it, are 2.5
  times more likely to develop the disease.
• Only one in ten GP’s ask a patient about family
  history even though 91% know the risks.
• One in eight men will be diagnosed with the
  disease in their lifetime (one in four black men).

Famous men who had Prostate Cancer include – Nelson Mandela, Laurence Olivier, Ben Stiller, Roger Moore, Robert de Niro, Musicians James Brown, Frank Zappa, Jonny Ramone (Ramones) and Phil Lesh (bass guitarist with Grateful Dead), so I’m in good company !

Initially I did wonder whether to go public with this – professionally I thought it could have been terrible – it has not been. I owe it to all the men out there - friends, colleagues and the pool industry to let them know the dangers of ignorance and denial.

I shall be wearing my moustache for Movember and I hope you
will too. The Tanby men and clients who wish to partake, will be joining me in growing a moustache to support this cause.  

Don’t be afraid to talk about it – confront prostate cancer together. 

If you would like more information please visit https://prostatecanceruk.org/ and if you would like to show your support, a small donation of £5 gets you the a “Man of Men”, the man-shaped pin-badge which has graced the lapel of almost every football manager and Sky Sports pundit in recent years. The same 'Man of Men' logo appears in the squad number on all EFL players' shirts. With your help we can stop Prostate Cancer being a killer.

A five minute test
could save your life…….take control….take the test!

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