Llanfyllin’s mayor, Cllr Peter Lewis, has issued a call for people to get themselves checked after revealing that he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

As he was unanimously re-elected as mayor of Llanfyllin at the town council’s annual general meeting on Wednesday, May 9, Cllr Lewis shared an update on his health in the hopes of raising awareness of men's health issues.

The town mayor told the council that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, adding that he hoped sharing the news might remind others to get annual checks for the condition.

He said: “Some of you may be aware and some may not be of my recent health issues , so I feel it is only best to update you all as it seems to be getting common knowledge.

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“Last Thursday, it was confirmed that I have prostate cancer. To be sure that the cancer has not spread from the prostate I will be having a bone scan later in May, and the results will be two weeks later where the hospital team will meet to discuss my treatment options and then arrange for a face to face with me to decide my treatment path to making a full recovery.

“I would like to thank everybody for all the kind words and support, but also a big thank you to the staff at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital, consultants, doctors and nurses for all their amazing support on my journey that so many travel and get to a positive conclusion.

“Hopefully I will continue to work and will continue with all my Council work , County and Town as normal .I am keeping very positive and am driving forward to get this sorted.

“I wanted to also take this opportunity to advertise and promote male health. Men don't check themselves enough as is, and in a farming and rural community male health checks are significantly lower.

“There are around 52,300 new prostate cancer cases in the UK every year, that's more than 140 every day. Prostrate cancer is entirely curable if caught early, and is the most common form of cancer.

“Prostate Cancer in the earliest stages has no symptom, so I urge you all to get checked every year. I would also urge all men and women to not ignore the smallest of symptoms.”

Cllr Lewis added that the Mayor's Charity for his 2024 term will be Lingen Davies Cancer and Prostate Cancer UK.