Farmer urges others to get checked after prostate cancer diagnosis
A farmer who was diagnosed with prostate cancer earlier this year has called for others to get checked – after his illness was discovered following a routine blood test.
Denys Fell, 73, who farms 250 mainly arable acres, went for a routine blood test in June.
After the medical team noticed an elevated prostate-specific antigen level (PSA) in his blood, Denys was referred for additional tests.
He was diagnosed with prostate cancer days later.
“I got one of the biggest shocks of my life. It blew my world apart,” Denys said. “I thought ‘you cannot be serious’.”
The news came as a tremendous shock to Denys, who felt healthy and well, and had just 12 months earlier run the Boston Marathon.
Denys had surgery in September 2024 and was declared cancer free in November 2024. He is now thinking about running his next marathon.
In a video recorded on the farm, Denys has shared his story, and has urged others to take the time to get checked.
“It’s important to get seen within good time,” he says. “Please, please get yourself checked.”
Earlier this month The Farming Community Network (FCN) launched the #NipItInTheBud campaign with Macmillan Cancer Support during a reception at the House of Lords to raise awareness of cancer risks, signs and symptoms, and to encourage early detection.
Find out more about FCN’s partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support at https://fcn.org.uk/cancersupport/
