I was very lucky I didn’t have to wait

WHEN Aleksander Jovanovic was referred for prostate testing, he presumed he was in for months of waiting.

‘I have had some experience of this in the past,’ said Mr Jovanovic, 5 ,a married father of two from west London. ‘But this time, from day one it was very different – I could not believe how organised it was. There was no waiting around, they just took me from tests to results.’ He was one of the very first men to go through the new Rapid programme.

Mr Jovanovic, pictured, was referred to Imperial College London after an adverse blood test. A week after seeing his GP he reported to hospital, having a scan then a biopsy in a single day.

Within ten days he had the results, showing he had prostate cancer.

He was put on hormone pills to ensure it did not spread and within two months had an operation to remove his prostate.

That was judged to have gone well, and Mr Jovanovic has an appointment later this month to find out whether the cancer has been eradicated.

‘I count myself very lucky,’ said the Serbia-born IT worker. ‘Cancer is no joke, but everyone has been really helpful and really kind.’

He added: ‘I am not someone to easily give compliments, but I have been really pleasantly surprised by the way I have been treated.’