A Rugby hospital charity trustee who had no symptoms when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer is part of a campaign to raise money and help save lives.

Rotarian Willy Goldschmidt, president of the Friends of St Cross in Rugby, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2017, when he was 65.

His GP ordered a Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test which indicated he might have the disease. This was confirmed after an MRI scan and biopsy.

Willy said: “55,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer and 12,000 die every year and yet this disease can be cured if diagnosed early.

Cllr Maggie O’Rourke, Willy Goldschmidt, Gill Nelson, and Cllr Jerry Rodhouse. Below: Rotarian Willy Goldschmidt said “55,000 men are diagnosed with Prostate Cancer and 12,000 die every year and yet this disease can be cured if diagnosed early. Right: Willy at the hospital.

placeholder image — Cllr Maggie O’Rourke, Willy Goldschmidt, Gill Nelson, and Cllr Jerry Rodhouse. Below: Rotarian Willy Goldschmidt said “55,000 men are diagnosed with Prostate Cancer and 12,000 die every year and yet this disease can be cured if diagnosed early. Right: Willy at the hospital.

"When I was diagnosed I was doubly fortunate to be told that it was at an early stage and could be cured if dealt with promptly. I was offered the opportunity to take part in a research trial for a new type of radiotherapy treatment which meant that I only had five courses of treatment, as opposed to the standard 20 sessions and have been cancer-free ever since.

“I must say that the side effects of the treatment were short lived and quite tolerable when compared to the alternatives discussed.”

The short course of radiotherapy treatment has been available at UHCW since March 2024.

On June 10 NHS England announced that 48 radiotherapy centres would start offering this service ‘within weeks’.

Willy is now urging people to sign the Prostate Cancer UK's petition calling for a debate in parliament about the need for a National Screening Campaign for prostate cancer.

The Rotary Club of Rugby Dunsmore and the Rugby Rokeby Lions Club have teamed up with Rugby councillors Jerry Roodhouse and Maggie O’Rourke to organise a charity quiz night on July 31.

It takes place at the Rugby Indian Centre in Edward Street to raise funds – and awareness – for Prostate Cancer Research and local testing.

Lion Gill Nelson said: “It is deeply disappointing that the NHS National Screening Committee (NSC) has recently proposed screening only a few thousand men who are at the highest risk of contracting prostate cancer.

"The NHS only reluctantly offers testing on request for men aged between 50 and 70. The Rugby Rokeby Lions Club have organised private testing for men aged 40 and above for nine years.”

He said 1,863 men without symptoms have been tested and of those 148 have been advised to make an urgent hospital or GP appointment to initiate further tests.

Cllr Roodhouse said “I had difficulty passing urine, which is one of the classic symptoms of prostate cancer, and my GP offered me a PSA test which did not indicate that I had prostate cancer but follow up scans and a biopsy identified that I have advanced neuroendocrine cancer.

"Men are notoriously reluctant to discuss their health and many believe that the typical symptoms are just a sign of ageing.

"I would urge all men aged over 50 to speak to their GP to request a free NHS test or to attend the next Lions Club testing session on September 19 in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Sports Centre.”

Cllr O’Rourke said: “My husband Brendan was diagnosed with prostate cancer ten years ago. Like Cllr Jerry Roodhouse, his PSA levels were very low but thanks to a very diligent local GP further investigations led to his cancer diagnosis.

"Different treatment options were discussed with the lead consultants and Brendan was one of the first to have a successful robotic surgery.

"It’s really good to see that treatments are advancing and that we have well known local men who are not only promoting awarenesses of the importance of testing but are championing compassion in services, more treatment locally and advancing national pilots.

"I was delighted to learn that Willy has been given an invitation to attend the next meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Prostate Cancer in Westminster at which he will hear the group’s initial perspective on the latest National Screening Programme recommendation to only test a very small group of men at a high risk of contracting the disease.”

Tickets for the quiz are available on https://bit.ly/4uPCJ68 where donations can also be made. Find out more about the petition at https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/751472