THIS month is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. All men over the age of 40 should know that over 35,000 men are diagnosed with this disease every year. But there is hope if you take the precaution of having a simple blood test called a PSA test once you get to 40, especially if there is any history of cancer in your family.

I have am currently recovering from a ‘big’ operation to remove my prostate gland as it was diagnosed as cancerous after having the initial PSA test followed some time later by a biopsy.

The NHS team at Wycombe Hospital were brilliant. I was diagnosed with the disease on November 10, 2008 and I had the Radical Prostatectomy on January 12, 2009. The process couldn’t have been quicker had I been Royalty and the care and attention lavished on me by the wonderful staff at NHS Wycombe Hospital was second to none, I can’t thank them enough.

I am now well on the way to recovery from this potentially killer disease thanks to all the staff there.

Whilst on the thank you subject I must thank all my friends for the support they have given me and most importantly I must thank my dear wife Pat who had to put up with a lot, she jokes that she is now a fully qualified nurse and I second that.

I would not have recovered so quickly without her tireless care and attention, she too is wonderful.

If you want to know more about Prostate cancer, and if you are male and over 40 YOU SHOULD then please go on line and log on to http://www.prostate-cancer.org.uk/what/awareness.asp

Richard JC English, Earl Close, High Wycombe