Let’s talk about prostate cancer: Peter, Mansfield and Wayne’s lifesaving conversation

A friend brought it up when we were playing a round of golf. My barber asked me about it when I was getting a haircut. Someone at work told me her husband had it a few years ago.

Do you remember the first time you heard about prostate cancer? Chances are it all began with a simple conversation, completely out of the blue. 

In the UK, 1 in 8 men will get prostate cancer. And if you’re Black, your risk is even higher.  

In fact, it’s the most common cancer in men – but far too many of them don’t know their risk and what they can do about it. 

By knowing your risk, you can find prostate cancer earlier - when it’s easier to treat. It’s not about luck or fate. It’s about taking charge of today, so you can enjoy more tomorrows. 

That’s why talking about prostate cancer with the men in your life – your dad, grandad, brother, uncle or mates – is so important. It could be the conversation that sets them on their path to a lifechanging early diagnosis.

It’s about time to talk – meet Peter, Mansfield and Wayne

Peter, Mansfield and Wayne are three men who know the importance of talking about prostate cancer.  

They’ve all been diagnosed with the disease – and they’ve made it their mission to help other Black men find it early.

Hear them share their prostate cancer stories – and their lifesaving message for men – below. 

‘The people who love you want you to be alive’

For Mansfield, it was a moment sitting in the waiting room before a medical appointment that made him realise how common prostate cancer is among Black men. He says it was thoughts of his close family and friends – the people in the world who loved him most – that motivated him to take action. 

Mansfield: “I would say there were about 15 or 20 of us in the waiting area – and 10 or 12 of us were Black. That’s when I really felt the gravity of how much it affects men in my community. 

“The people that love you. The people that care about you. Your immediate family. Your wives, girlfriends, children, if you have them - they want you to be alive. 

“And so that’s why I always tell guys: you must get checked. You have autonomy. You can change the outcome. The earlier it’s found, the better chance you have of it being cured. 

“I am living proof that prostate cancer is not a death sentence. So my message would be: ignore the noise and listen to yourself. How important is your life?” 

‘Get ahead of prostate cancer, before it gets ahead of you’

It’s now six years since Peter was diagnosed with prostate cancer. And he believes it was the moment that saved his life. Acting early, he says, is the most important thing for other men to keep in mind. 

Peter: “Six years on, I look back and I say: had I not done it then, I wouldn’t be here today. 

“And it’s only because I’ve documented what I went through that I can remember it - because a lot of it is forgotten, which is a good thing, because it means that I’ve got over it and I’ve come out the other end.  

“With prostate cancer, you need to get ahead of it before it gets ahead of you.” 

‘Those 30 seconds could actually save your life’

Today, Wayne makes an effort to tell other men about the importance of knowing their risk of prostate cancer – and just how easy it is to take the first simple step. His message to other Black men? Take 30 seconds out of your day to check your risk. 

Wayne: “The Risk Checker takes just 30 seconds. And I encourage guys all the time: do it.  

“Prostate Cancer UK have made it their mission to have the Risk Checker and spread that as far and wide as possible, to make it accessible in the absence of a national screening programme. And it works. 

“It’s really important that people understand the significance and importance. So stop scrolling on your phone for a few moments and just get on there. Because those 30 seconds could actually save your life.” 

Checked your risk already? Talk to the men in your life today

By starting a simple conversation with your dad, grandad, brother, uncle or mates, you could spark the lifechanging moment for another man like Peter, Mansfield or Wayne. 

It’s not just about finding prostate cancer. It’s about protecting their future - and all the experiences that are waiting for them there. 

And it starts with just 30 seconds. That’s all it takes for a man to check his risk of prostate cancer online.  

So talk about prostate cancer with the men in your life today – and tell them to take our 30 second online Risk Checker.  

CHECK YOUR RISK