Prostate test may have saved my dear husband
THE prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test to detect possible cancer should be given on demand and then we might save more men’s lives (Mail).
My husband, Ron, asked his GP three or four times for a PSA test, but the GP said it wasn’t necessary, as Ron had no symptoms and the test itself was not reliable. We even said we’d go private, but he told us to save our money. He examined my husband and assured him all was well.
When Ron was in hospital having a kidney stone removed, he asked once again whether he could have a PSA test. The nurse obliged and came back with the advice to book an appointment at the urology clinic. For this he needed a referral from his GP, who examined him again and said he had nothing to worry about, but referred him anyway.
Ron had a biopsy at the urology clinic and was told he had prostate cancer that had spread. He was given between 18 months and two years to live. It absolutely floored us. He was a lovely man and, at the age of 72, still had so much to give. He was a well-known restorer of vintage aeroplanes and loved life. I can’t bear being without him.
If he’d had a PSA test the first time he asked for one, could he still be here enjoying his life? I tell any man who will listen: don’t take no for an answer. Insist on the blood test, and if you need one, have a biopsy. Ron said it really wasn’t that bad, and it could save your life! I could scream with anger at times. We did everything right, but it still wasn’t enough.
Mrs DIANE SOUCH, southampton.
Not best for Britain
FINANCIER George Soros gambled against sterling on Black Wednesday in 1992, broke the Bank of England and made himself £1 billion, while showing little concern about the implications of his actions to the UK economy.
So why has the organisation Best for Britain accepted £400,000 from him to help fund an advertising campaign against Brexit?
The money should be returned, just like charities sent back the donations from the Presidents Club dinner at the Dorchester.
name and address supplied
Tackle the problem
STEPHEN Daisley (Essay) says the SNP cannot govern effectively because it is constantly pushing for the break-up of Britain.
He’s right, it is easier to tell people everything would be fine if only we’d vote for independence than it is to tackle problems.
ANDY LUCAS, Glasgow.
Low-tech pleasures
I DIDN’T realise what a technophobe I am. Of the joys that tech has killed off (Mail), I am still doing half of them.
The walls of my house are covered in photos, and I have lots of photo albums because if I take pictures, I have them printed at my local Boots store.
I still write letters to friends and family, including my pen friend Paula, whom I met 50 years ago.
My portable CD player comes with me on long car journeys, and I always book holidays at the local travel agent, not online.
My family plays chess, Monopoly and draughts, and we still have lots of films on VHS tapes.
As for owning an encyclopaedia, we have 20 bookcases crammed with reference works.
The lust for all things digital soon fades when we have all of this at our fingertips.
Mrs SALLY BUDD, Crawley, W. sussex.
Stunning cruelty
AS a cattle farmer, I find the slaughter of any animal without stunning unacceptable in the 21st century.
Religion should not overrule how animals are treated, and animal welfare minister Lord Gardiner should spends a day in an abattoir where cattle are not stunned.
How can the Government demand high welfare standards on farms, but expect caring livestock owners to let their animals be treated in such a barbaric way in their final moments?
Meat should be labelled so the public can make a choice. As for putting CCTV cameras in the slaughterhouse, they will only be as good as the person watching.
HELENA Ellis, york.
Cameron’s courage
DAVID Cameron gave me the opportunity to vote for Scottish independence in 2014 and, despite the fact he is a Unionist, I thank him for having the courage to allow me the chance to do so.
It is to his credit that he never suggested Scotland could not be a successful independent country, and now we have a chance to show we have what it takes to an asset to the Union post-Brexit.
In Banff and Buchan the main issue was probably Brexit and the fact that many fishing communities such as Peterhead want to leave the Common Fisheries Policy and the European Union.
But as Ruth Davidson said in her conference speech, we need a government that works for all parts of the UK– supporters of Scottish independence, supporters of the Union, those who wanted to remain in the EU and those who wanted to leave – so we can move forward with mutual respect.
PETER OVENSTONE, Peterhead, Aberdeenshire.
No room for contempt
I HAVE discovered that Nationalist List MSP Joan McAlpine is convener of Holyrood’s Europe committee and is moaning that the UK Government is treating the Scottish parliament ‘with contempt’ over Brexit. Long may this continue.
The SNP thinks all of Scotland is against Brexit, treating the very large number of us who voted Leave – lots of them SNP supporters – with contempt.
Similarly, ‘Brexit minister’ Mike Russell threatens to leak sensitive Brexit documents then wonders why he is being cold-shouldered by Westminster.
KENNY PRYCE, Glasgow.
Poisoned chalice
THE Chief Constable’s job at Police Scotland is indeed a poisoned chalice (Mail).
Maybe Justice Secretary Michael Matheson should take it on too – after all, he’s already doing the Scottish Police Authority’s job for them.
Tony Collins, Musselburgh, East lothian.
Shankly grit
SPURS playing at Rochdale in the fifth round of the FA Cup on a heavily sanded pitch puts me in mind of the great son of Ayrshire, Bill Shankly.
Having played Leicester City on their Filbert Street pitch in the Sixties on a similar surface, he was asked for his opinion on the game. In typical Shankly mode, he replied: ‘I’m glad it finished before the tide came in!’
P. NUGENT, Bootle, Merseyside.
Let down by Motability
WE first used the Motability scheme in 1996 as our son had a brain disease and was confined to a wheelchair. He died in 2003 and, a year later, our daughter was diagnosed with the same disease.
In 2013, she was admitted to a care home and we made a daily 70-mile round trip to see her. We were told we no longer qualified for the Motability car, so I took my pension early to buy a vehicle.
When we needed the scheme the most, it was denied to us.
I am shocked at how Motability has been abused by some people, despite more stringent rules being introduced. We have ended up moving home to be closer to our daughter.
PHIL and DENISE JACKSON, Abergele, Conwy.
Why protect a killer?
I DON’T doubt that James Bulger killer Jon Venables would be at some risk if his anonymity is ended, but more vulnerable people could be at greater risk if that anonymity continues. He has been given opportunities to change his behaviour, but has chosen not to do so, and he should face the consequences of that decision.
Whose safety is the priority: that of Venables or the public?
Colin MACDONALD, nottingham.
Nursing costs
THE NHS spend on agency staff (Mail) is incredible. It might be vital to keeping the service going but the SNP cannot sustain its ‘no privatisation’ line when millions are being spent like this.
ANNE MCKAY, Dumfries.