'Don't pay a visit when it's too late' (From Watford Observer)

'Don't pay a visit when it's too late'

2:00pm Friday 22nd August 2008

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In the minutes after his doctor diagnosed him with prostate cancer Chorleywood resident Bob Arthy reacted in much the same way as the more than 650 British men who learn the same news every week, with a mixture of shock and fear.

Just days after live-saving surgery, however, the retired teacher decided on a novel approach to ensuring that fewer men will find themselves in his position – by writing a and recording an awareness raising song.

Mr Arthy, who stood unsuccessfully for election to Three Rivers District Council this year, joined forces with his longtime friend, neighbour, and New Seekers member Mick Flynn to record the song, Doctor Please Don’t Send Me Away.

Mr Arthy said: “It’s about raising awareness of what prostate cancer is and what the symptoms are.

“The reason so many men die of it is that they put off going to the doctors for so long – until it’s too late.

“I know this, I’m a typical bloke, I don’t want to keep going to the doctors to get poked and prodded about. I’d rather do anything else.

“But I was lucky – I put off going even though I knew there was something wrong.

“I had many of the symptoms but still didn’t go. A good friend of mine died of prostate cancer not long ago so in many ways I’m doing this for him.”

Figures suggest that around 10,000 British men will die from the disease in the next 12 months - a disproportionately high number when compared with other western countries of a similar size.

Many of these men, says Mr Arthy, could have improved their chance of survival by catching the disease with an early trip to the doctors.

“Really what I’m calling for is a kind of once a year MOT, where men can get tested. Women are tested for a number of things but we men are still lagging behind - and that’s what the song is about.”

Mr Arthy, who lives in Chalfont Lane, has been writing and recording songs about a number of different subjects for years, including a song, Local Election Time, urging voters to the ballot boxes during May’s council elections.

He added: “I had to do something. I couldn’t just sit there and do nothing, I’m not that type of person.

“The statistics are frightening but I don’t want to be a statistic.”

Mr Arthy had surgery earlier this month and is making a good recovery.

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