HUNTINGDON — Shane Newton, 56, of Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire, received a diagnosis of late-stage prostate cancer which had spread to his bones. Doctors stated that prostate cancer that has spread to the bones is considered incurable and harder to treat.

Newton's PSA test result was 78, a level doctors identify as a red flag for his age, where a PSA over 4 suggests concern. He reflected that he wished he had consulted a doctor seven or eight months prior to his diagnosis. Newton cited his work schedule, including 12-hour factory shifts, as a reason for not seeking medical attention sooner. He experiences tiredness, which he had attributed to his long working hours.

Newton explained, "I kept putting it off, and just left it too long, I realise that now." He added that men often hesitate to admit they are unwell, stating, "It's just a man thing.. You just don't like to admit you're not feeling good, you just sort of get on with life, you have aches and pains..." Newton attends a men's cancer support group, and stated that he does not want to know his prognosis as he aims to remain positive.

Data from Cambridgeshire indicates that approximately 40% of attendees at health checks in surgeries are men, while women account for around 60%. In England, one in five men die before the age of 65, compared to approximately one in eight women. Additionally, women in England live nearly four years longer than men on average, and cancer is the leading cause of male deaths in the country.

GP Neil Modha, who works at Thistlemoor Medical Centre in Peterborough, stated that some men wait until their symptoms become severe before seeking help. He said, "They may come in, for example, telling us they've lost two stones in weight, and we would hope they would have come sooner." Modha added, "Many people might be in really busy jobs, and so Monday to Friday services may not work for them." He noted that Thistlemoor Medical Centre offers Saturday hours until 5:00 PM, stating, "We need to offer Saturdays, and here, we do open up on Saturdays until five o'clock."

Across England, free mobile health check units are being deployed. Councillor Luis Navarro, of Cambridgeshire County Council, stated that the uptake of these mobile health checks has been encouraging. He noted, "It's free, accessible, and the results are almost instant." Navarro also stated that the use of these mobile health checks is now nearly evenly split between men and women. These machines are linked to GP records and trigger follow-up calls when necessary.

No independent assessment of Shane Newton’s claims was available.