'I want more Afro-Caribbean men to talk to GPs'

A man who lost his brother to a rare cancer hopes to inspire other Afro-Caribbean men to seek early GP advice when he takes on the Great Manchester Run.

Granville Campbell, from Stretford, is running his 16th race to raise money for The Christie, where his older brother Eric was treated for a very rare penile cancer before his death in October.

Eric was diagnosed in 2021 and given 12 months to live.

Mr Campbell said he believed his brother would have received an earlier diagnosis if he had been "brave enough to seek doctors’ advice at the first sign of any health-related illness".

"He chose to stay quiet and was suffering over a period of time.

"Unaware his symptoms at the time were slowly escalating, he felt unable to open up and get medical advice," he said.

The 59-year-old said he wanted to reassure more Afro-Caribbean men that it is good to talk to their GPs about any medical issues they might have.

“The Afro-Caribbean community, especially the men, do not speak of such things unless they are pushed into it by a family member or loved one," he said.

"I now know that Eric would still be here if he had spoken out and sought help in the early stages of his cancer diagnosis.

"Taking part in this year’s Great Manchester Run in support of The Christie Charity is in his memory, and to highlight the message to all men to feel empowered - help is out there if we talk.”

Mr Campbell's message struck a chord with a close family friend, Ronnie Hunte, who attended Eric’s funeral last October.

“Ronnie heard my concerns about men not carrying out self-help when it comes to their health, and he eventually plucked up the courage and went for a PSA test," he said.

"Unfortunately, his results came back with a positive trace for prostate cancer, but being diagnosed so early means that Ronnie can return to full health after his course of treatment, which he recently started at The Christie in Oldham."

This year’s Great Manchester Run will be Mr Campbell's 16th, he took up the sport in 2007 after suffering a slipped disc.

He chose to raise money for The Christie where his mother was receiving treatment for a brain tumour.

"It was then that my love for the work The Christie was doing hit home to me, and I decided to give something back by fundraising.

“I was hearing quite a lot about the Great Manchester Run, and after taking part in my first event, seeing so many fellow runners of all ages, shapes and sizes and all running in support of their chosen charities, telling their individual stories for participating gave me the bug.”

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