Linton, 59, first heard about prostate cancer ten years ago when
his friend was diagnosed. He didn't know that in the UK, African
Caribbean men are three times more likely to develop prostate
cancer than white men of the same age. It wasn't until he had to
attend regular appointments for his own treatment that he really
understood the impact the disease has on this community.
"I was sitting in the hospital one day and I saw this guy walk
in that I knew from my school days and I said, "What are you doing
here?" He said, "Well, my doctor told me to come and have some
tests for prostate cancer." Another time I was visiting the clinic,
I saw a guy who lives around the corner, again I said, "What are
you doing here?" He said, "Oh, I had the prostate." He didn't even
use the word 'cancer'.
"I was hearing stories all over the place about people having
prostate cancer, so clearly it is something very common amongst
black men of my age, and so it makes sense for anyone who falls
into this group to take action and have a chat with their doctor if
they are concerned about prostate cancer."
Find out more about
prostate cancer in African Caribbean men.