New prostate cancer group in Teesside
The group is being set up by Terry Bytheway
A Middlesbrough man who has prostate cancer is setting up a new support group for men in Teesside.
75 year-old Terry Bytheway has had prostate cancer for eight years and he is wanting to share his experiences of survival.
He is urging men with his friends and family members to join the new support group in Guisborough called the 'North East Prostate Cancer Support Group'.
The first monthly meet-up is tomorrow (Thursday 17th July) at 6pm at Sleights Court Community Hub TS14 6TE.
Terry said: "The main aim is to offer emotional comfort and support as well as member shared wisdom, practical information to those who face the many challenges that are presented by the diagnosis of prostate cancer.
"This doesn't just affect the man himself. It affects his family, his partner, his friends and this is very important to think you're not alone. There's support out there.
"One in eight men will get prostate cancer at some stage in their life. One man dies every 45 minutes because of prostate cancer. It's something I want to change. Don't let that be you. Don't die of ignorance. Come and join a support group.
"It's important for men to know you're not alone. It's not something you can sweep under the carpet. It's something you have to face up to but you can do it with the help of others.
"I want to include all family members who are interested in coming along, or friends even, somebody that's there with you to take in information because sometimes it's quite difficult. So much information thrown at you that you think you'd never remember it all, so having people with you is vitally important.
"It's not just an individual involvement here, it's a family affair. What's going to happen with the wife? What's going to happen with the partner? What's going to happen with the family? Often family don't know how to approach you. I've even heard that friends have walked across the road to avoid talking to you because they didn't know what to say.
"It's important that you bring those people in. It's important that they also know what you're going through when what's happening to you. It's not a secret. It's something thousands and thousands of men are going through as we speak.
"My biggest fear whenever setting up support groups is I'm getting nobody to come. It's down to you guys out there, you men out there, to say 'OK. I might learn something from this.' It's important that you come along because I can't do anything without you."
There will also be a new group in Middlesbrough on Thursday 31st July at St. Clare Roman Catholic Church, 102 Low Lane, TS5 8EB.
He is hoping to set up one in Darlington in the future too.