A former professional boxer is hoping that other men will join the fight against cancer by taking advantage of a prostate screening session in Burton.

Burton-born Neville Brown, a former British middleweight champion, made his way to the Belvedere Centre at Burton's Queen's Hospital to get his prostate checked and now he wants other men to do the same.

He has joined the Inspire Health – Fighting Prostate Cancer campaign, which is the brainchild of Jyoti Shah, a consultant urological surgeon for Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, to encourage men to get tested.

The campaign has already seen more than 350 men get tested, with 24 found to need further treatment, but now it is focusing on African Caribbean men as their risk of prostate cancer is twice as high.

Generally, in men there is a one in eight chance of being diagnosed with prostate cancer; for African Caribbean men the chances are slimmed to one in four which is believed to be down to their specific DNA.

Former boxer Neville Brown having his prostate screened at Queen's Hospital. He is having his prostate screened with Jyoti Shah to encourage more African-Caribbean mean to get the screening as they are at higher risk. Also Jyoti and Sarah are up for some awards so going to get the information on that at the same time.
Pictured: Sarah Minn - Macmillan Urology Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Former Boxer Neville Brown, Jyoti Shah Neurological Consultant
Former boxer Neville Brown, with Sarah Minns, a urology advanced nurse practitioner, and neurological consultant Jyoti Shah, is encouraging other men to get their prostate's screened.

Neville takes steps every day to look after his health with exercise and eating fresh food but now he has had the screening test to check his prostate health and so that he is not a "hypocrite" when he asks other men, aged 45 and older, to get themselves checked.

The 51-year-old has put the plea out to all men to take advantage of the screening, but particularly African Caribbean men due to their higher risk.

He said: "It's a must. I think that health is important. My reason, and I can only talk for myself, is my mother was diagnosed with cancer and we got it too late and I think that was the worst thing to find out the information too late. Yes, it is not good information and it is not a nice thing to know, but we need to know sooner rather than later.

"I would say to people that if you want to see your kid's next birthday; if you want to see your kid graduate, get down there and get checked. If you're over 45 go get checked because this is a silent killer and to me we need to be on top of this as soon as possible.

"Yes, it's a scary and, at times, embarrassing feeling but your health is more important and, like I said, it is not always you but the ones around you that it affects.

"My mother affected me in a big way until today, four years on, and I still feel gutted that part of me has gone and the fight. I am classed as a boxer and classed as a fighter but mine was just an activity; to watch somebody fall apart and break over six months when they didn't want to leave here, that will never leave me.

Former boxer Neville Brown having his prostate screened at Queen's Hospital. He is having his prostate screened with Jyoti Shah to encourage more African-Caribbean mean to get the screening as they are at higher risk. Also Jyoti and Sarah are up for some awards so going to get the information on that at the same time.
Sarah Minn taking Neville's blood, which is also part of the screening process
Sarah Minns takes Neville Brown's blood, also part of the screening process for prostate cancer.

"That is why I am coming out here and saying to people get over it, whatever the fears you have; better we find out now for the loved ones and get a grip and get a hold of this. The test is not that bad."

In a bid to reach out to the African Caribbean community, Miss Shah will be giving a talk at the Burton Caribbean Association about the importance of getting the test and details of her next screening programme and will be joined by Neville.

After taking the test himself, he thinks that fear of the unknown is stopping most men from having it done. He thinks that sometime with so much information available it can add more fear and stop men from taking that plunge.

Neville said: "It is a little uncomfortable but it surprised me how quick it was. You go in and have all these fears, but it is just the fear of the unknown. I didn't want to be a hypocrite so I took one for the lads."

Former boxer Neville Brown having his prostate screened at Queen's Hospital. He is having his prostate screened with Jyoti Shah to encourage more African-Caribbean mean to get the screening as they are at higher risk. Also Jyoti and Sarah are up for some awards so going to get the information on that at the same time.
Former boxer Neville Brown after having the prostate cancer test at Burton's Queen's Hospital

The screening - a collaboration between Burton Albion, Queen's Hospital and the Rotary Club- has previously been held at the Pirelli Stadium to reach football fans and men who feel more comfortable at a football ground rather than at a surgery or hospital. There has also been a session at the hospital for its own staff.

The screening talk will be held in the training room upstairs at the Burton Caribbean Association, in Uxbridge Street, from 7pm on Thursday, August 24. Miss Shah will be giving the talk and will be there to speak to people afterwards and answer any questions.

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