A fit and strong Glasgow surgeon was left reeling after being diagnosed with stage four cancer.
Gareth Jones says the news was "very, very difficult" to hear and now urged other men to get themselves checked an not to miss out on an early diagnosis.
The father of two from Cambuslang is an endourological surgeon, and was recognised for his pioneering work, that saw him bring new kidney stone operation practices to the West of Scotland.
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However, he has now shifted his focus to a new fight. The 55-year-old was diagnosed with prostate cancer last summer and has since been urging other men to get checked.
The surgeon, who has worked at Glasgow’s Royal Infirmary since 2002, said: “It’s so vital that men get checked, its simple and relatively painless. If prostate cancer is caught early then you have so much more of a better chance of cure.
"Getting checked for prostate cancer should be front and centre when it comes to men’s health.
“For me, as a surgeon you sometimes think you can cope with most things but getting this news was very, very difficult. I had an accelerated diagnoses so it all happened very quickly. If I’m being honest I’m still processing it now.
"I have got stage four prostate cancer, so it’s all about managing it now.
“There are so many factors you don’t really consider or think about, there are the obvious physical impacts but there are so many psychological aspects to this too. I have been really well supported though my journey, by friends and colleague , with the input of the palliative care team and psychologists at Maggie’s too.
“I’m not currently working, so what I have been doing recently is supporting the Prostate Cancer UK Scotland Hub with the view of helping out whenever I am able to. This involves raising awareness and looking for opportunities to get stands back in hospitals following the COVID-19 pandemic and also educate our partners in General Practice."
November is the month dedicated to raising prostate cancer awareness, a disease that affects one in eight men.
Gareth undertook a mammoth task in January, covering over 180 miles, swimming, cycling, running and walking, raising a total of £4,400 for Prostate Cancer UK.
The Cambuslang dad said: “I was looking to do some fundraising in January for lifesaving research and support for men and their families affected by prostate cancer. I planned to do the distance of a marathon over the month. But I got a bit carried away and did a bit more than that.
"I have triathlon and Ironman history, so I decided I would do an iron man over the month. I ended up getting that finished within a week so I just carried on adding more to the challenge.
“I would meet friends and we’d cycle or do a bit of running. I remember one Friday going to the pool at Tollcross and completing a 1.9km swim. I also went on the heritage park in East Kilbride with my wife and friends and cycled at Whitelee Windfarm too.
"I travelled to Switzerland for work at one point and used that as an opportunity to walk down the mountains.”
Last month Gareth was honoured with the inaugural Silver Ureteroscope Award by the British Association of Urological Surgeons, for his dedication to endourology training.
The recognition came as a surprise to the 55-year-old.
He said: “I was really surprised to learn that I was going to be given the award as it’s the first time they have given it out, so I wasn’t even aware of it.
“When I was training I noticed that there was a need for advanced kidney stone operations and a more formal stone service in Glasgow and the West of Scotland so became really interested in learning all I could and passing that on to others.
“I didn’t really know how to respond to the award , it’s really humbling.”
Check your risk, or ask a man you know to check their risk of prostate cancer this Movember at prostatecanceruk.org/risk-checker
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