A man from Didcot has spoken out about the importance of an early diagnosis of prostrate cancer which comes as a charity says invasive tests for prostate cancer are no longer needed.

Tim Scane, 66, from Didcot, was diagnosed early with prostate cancer after seeing an advert for Prostate Cancer UK’s Risk Checker on social media.

The keen cyclist felt healthy other than getting up more in the night to use the toilet.

“One day I was scrolling through Facebook and an advert came up from Prostate Cancer UK encouraging men to take their Risk Checker tool,” Mr Scane said.

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“I clicked through and completed it, and that prompted me to make an appointment with the GP.

"I’m so glad I did, because after an initial blood test I was referred for scans in hospital which showed I actually had prostate cancer.

“It was a tough time, but I had great support from my family and the doctors and nurses.

“They found it early, fortunately, so the cancer hadn’t spread and was able to have it removed surgically.

"Now I’m recovered and totally well.

"Seeing that advert online is why I’m cancer-free today, so I’m glad to be part of this campaign getting more men to check their risk like I did.”

This comes as a charity has said that almost half of men falsely believe they need invasive tests to check for prostate cancer.

Prostate Cancer UK said a rectal exam is no longer useful, and it is trying to raise awareness that a simple blood test is now used to test for the disease as part of its Find it Earlier campaign.

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A survey of almost 1,000 men found 46 per cent thought they would need a rectal exam, and this was one of the biggest factors putting them off getting tested.

Oxford Mail:

Sophie Smith, senior specialist nurse at Prostate Cancer UK, said: “The best first test for the disease is a simple blood test that you can get for free from your GP.

“Thanks to recent advances like MRI scans being introduced and more effective therapies becoming available, the way we diagnose and treat prostate cancer is now more accurate, effective, and safe than it has ever been.”

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, with more than 52,000 diagnosed each year.

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Laura Kerby, chief executive of Prostate Cancer UK, added: “The good news is that the earlier you find prostate cancer, the easier it is to treat — and an earlier diagnosis could save your life."

The survey also found that just one in five men were aware that prostate cancer tests are not part of routine health checks.

Seven in 10 men also admitted they would wait until symptoms were really bad before going to the GP.

In May, Prostate Cancer UK launched the £42 million Transform trial, which will compare various screening methods to current NHS diagnostic processes – which can include blood tests, physical examinations and biopsies.