Charlotte's page
Charlotte Stephenson is raising money for PROSTATE CANCER UK
Story
Absolutely buzzing to be running my first ever marathon in the one and only TCS London Marathon, October 2nd - and a whole lot more exciting to be doing it in aid of Prostate Cancer UK!
Why Prostate Cancer UK?
My dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2018 , age 53, which was a total shock with little to no symptoms and only went to get checked as a precautionary after my uncle was diagnosed. A month later my dad opted to get his prostate removed which he was fortunate enough to be able to do privately as there were significant delays going through the NHS. Frightening to put a price on health and really emphasises the need for more funding and research in this field.
18 months later the cancer came back which was treated with radiotherapy and since, my dad has been on hormone treatment for nearly 2 years finishing this September which will allow for a reassessment. He has blood tests every 3 months which are currently clear and will continue to for the next 2 years to determine whether the radiotherapy and hormone treatment has worked.
As a family, our experience has emphasised the need for better research and education among the population and shows the difference that increased funding could have, i.e. if there were more tests, scanners, programmes or annual check-ups (just as us females get smear tests, breast cancer info etc.), waitlists and early detection could be significantly improved and better managed as I feel quite strongly that you should not have to rely on your ability to afford private health care to save your life.
I knew as soon as I spoke with Prostate Cancer UK that they were the charity I wanted to support and was lucky enough to secure my spot in the marathon with them. Their top priority is funding research to stop prostate cancer killing men. They invest substantially to find better treatments and more effective approaches to diagnosis and tests that can spot fast-growing cancers early, and could be used in a screening programme to save thousands of lives.
Their research has initiated and accelerated some of the biggest breakthroughs in prostate cancer care over the last two decades – from the use of multiparametric MRI to improve diagnosis, to the world’s first precision medicine for prostate cancer.
£10 could pay for ten microscope slides for scientists researching the effects of new treatments
£25 could fund one of our Specialist Nurses for one hour to support men affected by prostate cancer and their families
£50 could fund 2.5 hours of research which could be the moment we make a breakthrough in understanding prostate cancer
Their research has initiated and accelerated some of the biggest breakthroughs in prostate cancer care over the last two decades – from the use of multiparametric MRI to improve diagnosis, to the world’s first precision medicine for prostate cancer.
£10 could pay for ten microscope slides for scientists researching the effects of new treatments
£25 could fund one of our Specialist Nurses for one hour to support men affected by prostate cancer and their families
£50 could fund 2.5 hours of research which could be the moment we make a breakthrough in understanding prostate cancer
P.s. my dad wanted me to say that he thinks all men over 50 should get their PSA checked as there is currently no screening limiting early detection - so please pass onto your friends and family. His experience has already helped some of his friends catch it early!
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story and any donations of any size mean a lot to me - Thank you!