Calvin Wood

Calvin WoodCalvin, 69, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2001 and now devotes all of his spare time to supporting other men with the same condition.

Calvin received hormone treatment (Casodex, Zoladex) and a six week course of radiotherapy.

Following treatment his PSA levels dropped from 17 to 0.4 and grandfather-of-four Calvin decided to set up a prostate support group at the hospital, on the Wirral, where he was treated.

"We've got more than 180 members on our books," he explains. "Every month we get around 70 people who come along to the group. It's wonderful to be able to help others in the same boat and give them guidance and advice from a patient’s perspective."

 

Cancer Research UK scientists discovered an early hormone drug called stilboestrol, which became the treatment of choice for prostate cancer for more than 40 years. This work helped pave the way for the next generation of hormone treatments such as Zoladex that are benefiting people like Calvin today.