THE GRATEFUL head of Rugby’s hospital charity who overcame prostate cancer thanks to a ‘life-changing’ new treatment trialled in Coventry is backing a campaign to raise awareness of the disease.
Willy Goldschmidt, President of The Friends of St Cross, is encouraging residents to sign a Prostate Cancer Research petition calling for a parliamentary debate into a more comprehensive national screening programme.
Willy beat the disease after he took part in a research trial for a new type of radiotherapy treatment at University Hospital Coventry (UHC), which is soon being rolled out to radiotherapy centres across the country.
He said: “In 2017, I had no symptoms but, following a Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test I was diagnosed as having prostate cancer.
“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. I have been cancer free ever since.
“The side effects of the treatment were short lived and quite tolerable when compared to the alternatives.”
After the success of the research trial was reported in 2024, Willy started a local campaign which resulted in the treatment being offered to local patients last year.
He said: “I believe this stimulated interest from other NHS trusts around the country – and NHS England has announced that 48 radiotherapy centres would start offering this service ‘within weeks’.”
But he believes the UK National Screening Programme Committee’s (NSC) latest recommendation to introduce targeted testing excludes some high-risk groups, and does not offer enough treatment options.
He added: “Awareness of this breakthrough and more open talk about prostate cancer will encourage more men over 50 to ask their GPs for a PSA blood test.
“55,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer and 12,000 die every year – and yet this disease can be cured if diagnosed early.”
Willy has teamed up with The Rotary Club of Rugby Dunsmore, the Rugby Rokeby Lions Club and Rugby Borough Councillors Jerry Roodhouse and Maggie O’Rourke to organise a charity quiz night to raise funds for Prostate Cancer Research and local testing.
The Rugby Rokeby Lions Club has organised private testing for men aged 40 and above for nine years. Of the 1,863 men without symptoms who have been tested, 148 have been referred to doctors for further tests.
Coun Roodhouse, whose PSA test led to a diagnosis of advanced Neuroendocrine Cancer, said: “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 or to attend the next Lions Club testing session on September 19 at the Queens Diamond Jubilee Centre.”
Coun O’Rourke’s husband Brendan was diagnosed with prostate cancer 10 years ago.
She said: “Thanks to a very diligent local GP, further investigations led to his cancer diagnosis.
“It’s really good to see treatments are advancing and that we have well-known local men who are promoting awarenesses of testing and championing compassion in services, more treatment locally and advancing national pilots.”
The quiz takes place at the Rugby Indian Centre on July 31. Visit https://bit.ly/4uPCJ68 for tickets, or to donate.
Visit https://bit.ly/43Sx3MH to sign Prostate Cancer Research’s petition.
