Kerr Scott: Alan Dickinson - Prostate Disease

At the meeting on Thursday 15th March, President Scott Elliot welcomed our speaker Alan Dickinson, a member of Peebles Rotary Club, but visiting the Hawick Club representing the charity Prostate Cancer UK. Alan, who had himself suffered that form of cancer, now successfully treated, gave a most informative talk and explanation of the disease with a power point presentation, which gave a number of worrying statistics. Did you know that one in eight men will get prostate cancer, and that 47000 in the UK will be treated for the disease each year? Although not all prostate problems are cancerous, Alan emphasised the need for all men, if they have any of the symptoms which he outlined, to go to their doctor and request a test to try to identify the cause of the problem. There are at least three tests, not all of which involve physical examination, and it is essential that the cancer, if it is cancer, is diagnosed at the earliest stage. Alan was living proof of the efficacy of early diagnosis and treatment. He then fielded a number of varied questions from the concerned male Rotarians.

President Scott gave a warm vote of thanks, before making a small donation to the charity He then reminded members of the Reivers Festival Literary High Tea, hosted by the Club, at Mansfield Park clubrooms on Sunday 25th March, when the speaker is to be the award winning author Margaret Skea. Tickets are £15 and can be purchased at ILF or Dorwards. Booking is essential !