'Prostate cancer diagnosis felt like a black hole'

A man diagnosed with incurable prostate cancer said the news felt like falling into a "black hole", as he urged others to check for signs of the disease.

Danny Burkey, from Ossett, was diagnosed in 2021, and was told his condition was incurable after a bone scan.

The 59-year-old spoke as Prostate Cancer UK launched a campaign urging men to visit their GP with prostate concerns, in the hope of an early diagnosis.

Mr Burkey told BBC Radio Leeds: "You think it is always going to happen to somebody else; you just cannot believe it is you."

Mr Burkey sought a diagnosis after experiencing symptoms related to prostate cancer.

According to the NHS, symptoms can include:

• Having a sudden urge to urinate
• Getting up often in the night to urinate
• Blood in your urine
• Erectile dysfunction.

"I had a blood test, an MRI and a biopsy," Mr Burkey said.

Recalling being told his illness was incurable, he said: "You are almost standing next to yourself thinking, I do not know what to do with this.

"You just cannot process it."

According to Prostate Cancer UK, one in eight men will get prostate cancer.

It is now England's most common cancer.

Despite the prevalence, the charity's research suggests six in 10 men are concerned about having a Digital Rectal Exam (DRE).

Of those, over a third would not speak to a GP about prostate worries because they feared the DRE exam.

Mr Burkey urged men to seek a diagnosis despite barriers, saying: "You do not need to have a DRE now.

"You can ask your GP for a simple blood test and that gets the ball rolling, it is as simple as that."

Earlier this week, the British Association of Urological Surgeons urged GPs to stop using the "outdated" and "inaccurate" DRE as a standard test.

They labelled it a "poor test" that deterred men from coming forward.

Men are encouraged to use Prostate Cancer UK's 30-second online risk checker and to talk to their GP about the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test.

A high level of PSA in the blood can indicate prostate cancer.

Research led by Prostate Cancer UK shows that the way prostate cancer is diagnosed - with a PSA blood test followed by an MRI scan - reduces potential harms to men by 79%.

Among those to catch the disease early was actor Colin McFarlane.

McFarlane, who has appeared in The Dark Knight and Doctor Who, announced he had prostate cancer on the BBC Breakfast sofa in June 2023.

He said: "I'm really lucky I caught it early, so I thought if I'm lucky and I know so much about this, I need to try and share this knowledge."

McFarlane's friend, theatre director Femi Elufowoju Jr said hearing his story encouraged him to get checked, which led him to also being diagnosed.

He thanked McFarlane for saving his life.

Despite treatment, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy, Mr Burkey's body has stopped responding to advanced hormone therapy.

He said: "Inevitably your body becomes resistant, the cancer becomes resistant to them.

"You are constantly having your PSA levels monitored to see how treatments are working.

"You are constantly sort of on your toes thinking where am I up to now?

"What have I still got left that can be used?

"It is a very anxious time.

"I do not want another man to be in the position I am in."

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