EACH year about 42,000 men in the UK are diagnosed with prostate cancer and 11,000 die from the disease — making it the most common cancer in men in the UK.

Prostate cancer progresses very slowly, so sufferers can live for decades without symptoms or needing treatment.

Symptoms can include needing to urinate more frequently, often during the night; needing to rush to the toilet; difficulty in starting to pee; straining or taking a long time while urinating; a weak flow; and feeling that your bladder has not emptied fully.

In the instance that it is detected, and unlike other cancers, men are often given the option to choose what treatment they would like to have — such as radiotherapy, surgery or hormone therapy.

Derek Tootill, aged 68, discovered he had prostate cancer five years ago during a routine check up with his doctor — but shortly after the shock diagnosis, he was helped by Bolton Prostate Cancer Support (PCS) group to decide the right treatment for him.

Mr Tootill, from Harwood, said: "I went to the doctors for my annual check up and casually mentioned that I was getting up more often for the toilet in the evenings. That started a sequence of events that led to me being diagnosed with prostate cancer.

"I had a test at Royal Bolton Hospital which confirmed this, and they gave me three options. I didn't take much in at that stage but saw a leaflet for the PCS group and decided to go.

"Blokes don't talk about their ailments but at the group everyone is in the same boat but at different stages, so it can really help with regards to working out what path to take, treatment-wise. Then when I went back to see the consultant I knew what action I wanted to take."

Mr Tootill, who has been married to his wife Meriel for almost 40 years, opted for robotic keyhole surgery, which was performed six weeks following his diagnosis, and hopes that speaking out will help other men take the first step in telling their doctor if something is not right.

He said: "Your first thought is to switch off and shut it all out – but that will not change anything. The group explained everything in 'bloke terms' and I was able to come to an informed decision about what I wanted to do.

"I chose the keyhole surgery because I felt it was less intrusive than being opened up. Then after that I had 20 days of radiotherapy burn off any surrounding tissue."

After his treatment finished, Mr Tootill was relieved to be told that he was in remission.

The father-of-three said: "To be told you are in remission is fantastic — long may it continue. But from that point you have to manage your condition in case it returns.

"It is scary, but burying your head in the sand won't change anything. I would urge anyone who has been diagnosed to come to the group."

Bolton PCS group meets on the second Wednesday of every month at St Luke's Church in Chorley Old Road from 2pm to 4pm.

Vice chairman Colin Stott said: "We aim to help anyone who has been diagnosed because it is usually something that they know very little about – some don't know what a prostate is for or where it is.

"Men are given a choice of treatment from their consultant and we help them chose the right option for them by offering information they might not remember or have asked during their appointment with their consultant.

"It's a very steep learning curve to be told all this after the shock of being told that you have cancer. Part of the problem is that men don't speak, but like all cancers the earlier it is detected the better it can be treated — so if you notice anything different to normal go to the doctor."

Dr Wirin Bhatiani, Chair of NHS Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group, said: "Prostate cancer is the most common cancer for men in the UK — more than 40,000 men are diagnosed every year, with over 250,000 already living with the disease.

"We are committed to improving awareness of prostate cancer and improving diagnosis and survival rates in Bolton. I would urge men to make themselves aware of the signs and symptoms, and if something isn't right, to talk to their GP and get themselves checked — as with other cancers, it's important to start treatment as soon as possible."

For more information about prostate cancer, visit nhs.uk/conditions/Cancer-of-the-prostate or to contact Bolton PCS group, call 07818 005479.