Published on Wed Dec 01 14:11:25 GMT 2010

Burnley Football Club is proud to promote and support The Prostate Cancer Charity, (TPCC), the UK’s leading prostate cancer charity.

Mr John Bickerstaffe, one of the faces of the club’s ‘Together’ campaign, is currently in remission, having suffered from the disease.

Club skipper Graham Alexander and Wade Elliott, the Clarets stars on the poster with John, have both thrown their weight behind the campaign for research into Prostate Cancer.

And during ‘Movember’ – the annual worldwide fundraiser where men grow a moustache to raise funds – Burnley FC club journalist Pete ‘Wing Commander’ Oliver raised £90 by sporting a dodgy tash for a whole month!

Mr Bickerstaffe, who was in the middle of chemotherapy, when the Together’ picture was taken, and recently raised an impressive £2,265.07 for the charity by completing the Great North run with son David and daughter Rachel, said: “The thought of cancer could easily put men off being tested, but early diagnosis is absolutely paramount.

“Up to now three friends of mine have had their prostate removed and been given the all clear as a direct result of listening to my plight.

“Two others have a higher than normal blood count and are being monitored.”

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer affecting men in the UK.

36,000 men are diagnosed every year and around 250,000 men are currently living with the disease.

Prostate cancer can develop when cells in the prostate gland start to grow in an uncontrolled way.

In most cases this is a slow growing cancer that men will be unaware of throughout their lifetime because it may never cause any symptoms or problems.

However, some men will have a fast growing cancer that needs treatment to prevent or delay it spreading outside the prostate gland.

Anyone worried about Prostate Cancer should note the following symptoms. however, most men with early prostate cancer have no symptoms at all.

These symptoms can also be caused by other prostate problems that are nothing to do with prostate cancer.

-A weak or reduced urine flow

-Needing to urinate more often, especially at night

-A feeling that your bladder has not emptied properly

-Difficulty starting to pass urine

-Needing to rush to the toilet – you may occasionally leak urine before you get there

Less common symptoms include:

-Pain when passing urine

-Pain when ejaculating

-Pain in the testicles

-New pain in the lower back, hips or pelvis

-Problems getting or keeping an erection

-Blood in the urine or semen – but this is rare

Some men with prostate cancer may have no symptoms at all.

If you have any of these symptoms, you should visit your GP to find out what is causing the problem.

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