A retired driving instructor in urging Walsall men to get checked for prostate cancer after recovering from the disease himself.

Grandad John Winsper, 85, made a full recovery after undergoing brachytherapy in 2006.

John, a volunteer for nine years at Walsall Manor Hospital, had radioactive pellets the size of grains of rice injected into his prostate to successfully remove traces of the cancer.

His PSA – a blood test to check for the risk of prostate cancer – was initially 5, which is a trigger to be monitored.

A biopsy came back all clear, but six months later a second one revealed cancer.

John, who was on the planning committee which saw the hospital earn Trust status, was handed a booklet containing options of what to do next.

“It was a bit of a shock, but my late wife Sylvia was with me and she took it worse than I did,” he recalled.

“I said to the Consultant ‘what are we going to do about it?’ and he said ‘That’s what I like – someone thinking positively’.

“I was given the phone number of a male Nurse to contact if I needed to and a diary to fill in with any medication, appointments and procedures.

“The booklet told me all the procedures I could have. I was lucky because my cancer was contained.

“I had a scan on my bones to see if it had spread but I was lucky in that I saw a friend while out walking and spotted a hospital bracelet on his wrist.

“I asked him about it and he told me he’d had brachytherapy for prostate cancer at Jimmy’s (St James’s University Hospital) in Leeds.

“He said his was contained and he recommended this treatment. You retain your prostate and it’s not invasive, so I decided to have that.”

John’s operation went ahead on New Year’s Day 2006 and he was in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for three days.

“I was told I’d have some radioactivity in me for a few months and I couldn’t have my grandkids on my lap for three months,” said John.

His PSA score has since increased, prompting his GP to refer him to a Urologist.

“I’m lucky,” said John. “Since my experience, I’ve told lots of men to get tested and done a talk at the Manor to encourage it.

“Sadly, two of those I spoke to didn’t get checked and they’ve died. So I’d urge all men to get tested.”

Possible signs of prostate cancer can include:

• An increased need to pee, especially at night
• Post-void dribbling: Feeling that the bladder is not completely emptied, leading to residual dribbling
• Weak or interrupted urine stream.