A prostate cancer survivor who was diagnosed three years ago says the death of news reader Bill Turnbull has encouraged him to urge men to get checked for the disease.

Alastair Deards, from Maidstone, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2019 when he was just 58 years old.

He had gone on holiday to Canada and had been having urinary problems for a while, such as going too often and in the night.

He said: "When I got back from the holiday I decided to go and see the doctor, who was really good and gave me a PSA test to find out what my PSA score was."

When it came back, it turned out that Alastair had a PSA of 3.7, and at his age it should have been less than three.

Now 61, Alastair says he was very lucky that his doctor took it seriously, as if he was 60 it may have just been brushed off.

He said: "I went for an MRI on the bladder then it came back that I would need a biopsy because they obviously saw something on the MRI.

"From the biopsy they found that I had prostate cancer and I had to go and see the specialist who tells you that you've actually got it."

From there, he was given three choices – to be observed, to have radiotherapy or to have it removed.

"It took about 30 seconds to say I'll have it removed," he said. "I've worked for a pharmaceutical company, I know a fair amount about cancer and the last thing I want is cancer in the body, so if you can take it out I don't really care, just get rid of it.

"The good news about prostate cancer is that in the majority of cases, it can be cured. Unfortunately, if it's found too late, then it becomes incurable."

Since his operation, Alastair has attended a prostate cancer support group which he says has been a huge help.

He said: "For me, finding out information and other people's experiences is so relevant. I did use Prostate Cancer UK, they were incredibly helpful as well.

"I personally find that talking to actual individuals is a lot easier than talking to somebody on the phone or live chat – it's not quite the same as it is around a table."

Alastair had a successful operation within two months and even met one of his best friends in hospital.

However, he unfortunately had a bladder that healed too quickly which meant it sealed and left him unable to urinate. As a result, he had to go another nine months and two minor operations before he was completely cured.

As his bladder seals up, he still has to self catheterise on a weekly basis.

"All the way through I've been going to the prostate group monthly," he said. "There's no barriers at all in the meeting whatsoever, it's a very friendly group, we talk about anything and everything.

"Some people stay, some people just want to come for a couple of meetings and disappear but the aim is to really try to support those who have got prostate cancer or are likely to get prostate cancer."

The group's next meeting is on Friday, September 30 at 10am in the Miller & Carter Maidstone, which provides the venue for free.

Alastair also ran a blog while he had cancer so that others would be able to learn about his experience.

Prostate cancer awareness has been raised recently following the death of Bill Turnbull last month.

Prior to being diagnosed, Bill said that he had experienced aches and pains for about a year but had put them down to old age.

As a result, he campaigned for men to seek early diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Alastair said the awareness Bill raised definitely made him feel more acknowledged. He said: "Bill has had a very large impact because obviously he's got the media presence that's enabled him to say things that most of us are unable to get across through the media.

"It's made people get their PSA checked, and we can't emphasise that enough, certainly in the over 50s should be having regular checks, and anyone who's suffering with urinary systems where they are going too often should just go and talk to their doctors, just to be absolutely certain.

"At the moment the best thing we can do is get the PSA check done on a regular basis, and a lot of people do know that but a lot of people don't so the earlier you catch it the safer you're going to be."