Martin Harris (in the green waistcoat) is joined by Daniel Gott, Yael Bebb, Ken Smith, Sheila Gould and Catherine Contoy at a pub gig in Gravesend BE10749
When actor Martin Harris was diagnosed with prostate cancer, his determination to find out more about the disease saved his life. MICHAEL PURTON finds out more.
FOR every one of his 59 years leading up to last summer, Martin had led a life full of activity.
He spent 25 years in California, winning awards for his stage performance as Scrooge in A Christmas Carol and appearing in films such as Battle Beyond The Stars.
When Martin was diagnosed with prostate cancer, he was months away from death.
There were no symptoms which forced 60-year-old Martin, from Gravesend, to see his doctor.
Martin simply felt as he was approaching 60 he should "have an MOT", so he saw his doctor last summer.
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He had a PSA Blood Test, which measures the level of prostate specific antigen - a protein produced by the cells of the prostate gland - in the blood.
A high reading can suggest prostate cancer.
Martin Harris on stage as Scrooge
Martin had a 4.7 PSA level. The recommended level for further investigation is five.
His doctor told him not to worry and advised him to have another test in nine months.
However Martin, who is a Christian, decided to have a biopsy as he felt God was telling him to act.
He said: "In retrospect I realise my need to know more, when offered the option between relaxing and having another blood test in nine months or facing intrusive anal inspections, was God's guidance."
A biopsy in September revealed prostate cancer.
After consultations at King's College Hospital in London, Martin was operated on in January this year.
During surgery it became apparent Martin's cancer was larger than expected and close to becoming potentially fatal.
He says doctors told him if the operation had been delayed any further, it could have been too late.
However, the cancer was successfully removed and Martin is now on the road to recovery, and even sang at a pub gig in Gravesend on March 16.
However, he cannot help wondering what might have been if he had not acted on his initial concern.
He said: "I do wonder what would have happened if I hadn't felt driven to take myself to the doctor for a check-up, especially as there were no obvious symptoms."
Martin views the ordeal as a blessing in disguise, as he now uses his experience of successfully battling prostate cancer to encourage other men to act before it is too late.
He has already appeared on BBC Radio Kent to promote awareness of the disease on behalf of The Prostate Cancer Charity.
Visit the charity's website at prostate-cancer.org.uk for more information.
FACTS ABOUT THE DISEASE
KNOWN as the "silent killer", prostate cancer has overtaken lung cancer to become the most common cancer in men.
The prostate is a male sex gland located underneath the bladder.
The causes of prostate cancer are still not fully known.
Nearly 35,000 men are diagnosed every year in the UK.
Around 10,000 men die from prostate cancer every year in the UK.
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