A record day for prostate cancer awareness

122 men were screened for prostate cancer at the Eaton Socon Health Centre on Saturday

In an extraordinary event on Saturday 5th September, men were queueing to be tested for prostate cancer, thanks to a campaign run by local man Dave Young.

Dave has been on the campaign trail for almost two years now and back in November of 2024 he asked his consultant - Dr Jyoti Shah MBE in an interview on Black Cat Radio, if she would come to St Neots with her team to conduct a testing event. Saturday saw that request fulfilled as 122 men received a consultation, PSA blood test and a digital examination.

Dave said, "When we first planned the prostate cancer screening event we had just 62 appointments available. We increased that to 100, then 105—and by the end of an incredible day, 122 men had been tested! But the figure that really stands out is this:

An amazing 220 men registered their interest.

Sadly, we couldn’t offer everyone an appointment—but what does that tell us? It tells us that men do want to be tested. Sometimes, they just need a little encouragement to take that first step."

Dave was fortunate that he had someone pressure him into getting tested, and he was grateful for that. Despite having no symptoms, his PSA test was raised and he was diagnosed with early prostate cancer. His subsequent treatment has now returned his PSA level to zero and he classes himself as 'one of the lucky ones'.

Black Cat Radio covered some of the event live from the health centre and recorded interviews will be broadcast this week on the station's 'Your Voice' programme - weekdays from 11am.