At the weekly meeting of the Rotary Club of Lockerbie and District held at the Sure Hotel Lockerbie, President Alan Carmichael welcomed Roly (Roland) Proudlock, Chairman and Founder Buddy of Prostate Buddies, Dumfries and Galloway as speaker.
Roly stated, “In summer 2016, I went to my doctor with a pain in my ribs that was bothering me. It later transpired that pain wasn’t attached in any way to my Prostate but following a blood test, my
doctor advised that while everything else was in order, my PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) reading was high and there could be a problem with my Prostate. At 62 years of age, I had quite frankly no idea what a prostate was, where it was and what it did.”
“I had none of the normal symptoms that point to Prostate Cancer, so that innocuous pain that took me to my doctor did me a huge favour. Can you afford ten minutes to have a blood test? Can you afford not to? It may save your life.”
“So why start a Prostate Cancer support group in Dumfries and Galloway?”
“It’s very simple. On the day I was diagnosed in early March 2018, myself and my wife along with my children were all devastated and struggled to take the news in. After two weeks, in desperation, I contacted a friend whom I knew had had prostate cancer and treatment. He immediately invited me to meet him, and we had a lengthy talk, after which I felt much more positive. He told me that as I’d been caught ‘early’ I could die with Prostate Cancer but not of it. That was such a powerful thing to hear. I am delighted to say that my ‘buddy’ on that day is also part of our group.”
“A Prostate Buddy is someone who:
• has/has had prostate cancer and been through the treatments.
• is happy to share their experience of their cancer treatment.
• is happy to listen and give support, drawing on experience.
• who can help you find the information you need.
• Has undergone training as a buddy.”
“It’s frustrating that men often don’t discuss health matters with their doctor or even with each other, as if doing so is a sign of weakness. It really isn’t!”
“I’m confident anyone attending our open sessions which are held from 7-9pm on the last Wednesday of each month at the Dumfries Baptist Church Centre, Gillbrae Road, Dumfries DG1 4EA and talking with us ‘buddies’ will be impressed. No topic is out of bounds and we are all very candid about the diagnosis, the illness, any side effects and our personal experiences. We are proof that listening and talking to other sufferers really helps. It certainly works for me!”
“All our meetings are free. There we will do all we can to help men (and their loved ones who are all invited) to come to terms with their diagnosis, consider their treatment options and put things in perspective. Come along!”
Past President David Rothwell on being called to give the vote of thanks, thanked Roly for sharing his own experience with prostate cancer and for detailing the help and support provided through ‘Prostate Buddies Dumfries and Galloway’, following which those present showed their appreciation in the usual manner.