Farmer and renowned rock concert organiser Peter Fall, who has raised more than £125,000 for health charities, has revealed he is facing a battle against prostate cancer and is determined to use his experience to urge others to get tested.
Peter, 76, is convinced the concerts at his farm at Patrick Brompton, near Bedale saved his life. After the last event in June he was so dehydrated he went for medicals tests and was diagnosed with the illness. But while his readings are high, the cancer is treatable and he believes he has been lucky, as he had no other symptoms.
A PSA blood test revealed Peter had a reading of 103. A normal one is two, low is three to four, medium is ten and high 20. Normally such a high reading would indicate that the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. But after undergoing scans Peter has been told the cancer has not spread.
He said: “It is a minor miracle, I think somebody has been looking after me. I am so lucky, I have been caught early and it is treatable. This test has saved my life and it can save others, I want people to see what has happened to me and to get the test done.
“It makes me more determined, the Barn That Rocks saved my life, I had no symptoms, I would never have gone for a check up. Prostate cancer is aggressive and the blood test is an indicator.”
Peter is currently being given tablets, and will be having injections followed by radiotherapy.
He added: “I really want to emphasise that men should go for the test, and you must have treatment if you need to, it will save lives.”
Despite the news Peter is absolutely determined that next year's Barn That Rocks will go ahead with plans already well advanced for the concert on June 1, 2024.
Once a year he turns his farm into a concert venue, this year's was the 11th Barn That Rocks, raising £18,439 for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
“I have been so fortunate in my life with my family the farm and the Barn That Rocks," he said. "I really want to spread the word about this and try and make sure others who may have prostate cancer get really early treatment it can make all the difference. It is important please go and get tested, it could save your life."
It is estimated one in eight men will get prostate cancer - the most common cancer in men in the UK. For information go to www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/prostate-cancer or www.nhs.uk/conditions/prostate-cancer/ and https://prostatecanceruk.org/
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