'I have same cancer as Jeremy Clarkson - hidden clue on my phone was only sign'

'I have same cancer as Jeremy Clarkson - hidden clue on my phone was only sign' EXCLUSIVE: After Jeremy Clarkson revealed he has aggressive prostate cancer, survivor Mike Collins shares how he was diagnosed despite having no symptoms and why one hidden clue may have saved his life A British dad with the same type of cancer as Jeremy Clarkson has issued a vital warning to men across the country. The former Top Gear presenter revealed his devastating prostate cancer diagnosis in the final episodes of his hit show Clarkson's Farm, which aired last night. His friend and farm manager, Kaleb Cooper, broke down in tears at the news. The star confirmed that while his cancer was caught early, it was an "aggressive" form that left him hospitalised. For Mike Collins, 67, Clarkson's diagnosis reminds him of his own experience in finding out his shock diagnosis that GPs missed. It's a disease that affects one in eight men in Britain and often develops silently, with up to 80 percent of men experiencing no symptoms. "People hear the word aggressive and think the worst," says Mike. "What it means is that the cancer is growing rapidly and is more likely to spread beyond the prostate and into the bones or other parts of the body. But if it's caught early, before that happens, it can still be treated very successfully." Mike, a trustee with the Prostate Project charity, believes Clarkson's treatment options are likely to depend on the exact nature of the disease, but could include surgery, radiotherapy, hormone therapy, or a combination of treatments. "If it's aggressive, doctors are more likely to want to treat it actively rather than monitor it," he says. "That could mean surgery or a course of radiotherapy, often alongside hormone treatment. The prognosis can still be very good if it's been found early." Clarkson was diagnosed last summer and had an operation to remove 10 percent of his prostate just eight months after heart surgery for blocked coronary arteries. Less than a year ago, Mike was diagnosed with prostate cancer despite having no symptoms whatsoever. Ironically, he discovered it while volunteering on a mobile PSA testing unit and encouraging other men to get checked. The retired Surrey resident was attending the British Motor Show in Farnborough last summer when he found himself demonstrating to a member of the public how to view PSA test results on the NHS app. The PSA blood test measures levels of prostate-specific antigen, a protein produced by the prostate gland. Elevated levels can be a sign of cancer, although the test is not perfect. "I was showing this chap how to look at his results and realised I'd only got two years of records myself," Mike recalls. He arranged a blood test through his GP and, days later, was volunteering again at CarFest, showing men how to access their results. The result that came back was reassuring. His PSA level was within the normal range. But when Collins looked more closely at the graph showing his testing history, something did not add up. "My PSA had increased by 50 per cent over three years," he says. "The actual result was still classed as normal, but the trend wasn't." A conversation with Professor Stephen Langley, a leading prostate cancer specialist and colleague through the Prostate Project, changed everything. "He said that wasn't right. PSA levels rise as men get older, but not by 100 percent. That's what led to further investigations." An MRI scan raised concerns, while a subsequent biopsy confirmed the prostate cancer diagnosis, graded three out of five but still contained within the prostate capsule. Because it had not spread, Mike was able to choose between having surgery to remove the prostate or undergo targeted radiotherapy combined with hormone treatment, which he ended up picking thanks to its quicker recovery timeframe. But the treatment was not without its challenges. Hormone therapy, which suppresses testosterone, can trigger symptoms often compared to the menopause, including hot flushes, breast enlargement and brain fog. "I'm still coming down from the hormones now," he says. "The memory fog was probably the biggest thing for me." Yet the outcome was everything he had hoped for after he discovered he was cancer-free on May 5 this year. The diagnosis was still a complete shock to Mike, who had also lost a close friend years prior to the disease. He and his wife attended the consultation together. "We looked at each other and had a bit of a cry," he says. "Even when you're told it's treatable and the consultant is optimistic, hearing the word cancer is frightening." Their two sons, both in their thirties, were deeply concerned. Having a father with prostate cancer means their own risk of developing the disease is roughly double the usual rate. Another risk factor is ethnicity, with one in four Black men developing prostate cancer during their lifetime, compared with one in eight men overall. Mike is now more committed than ever to raising awareness. He believes more men should know they have the right to request a PSA test from their GP from the age of 50, even if they have no symptoms. Men with a family history of prostate cancer, and Black men, are often advised to consider testing from the age of 45. "I had no symptoms at all," he says. "If I hadn't looked at that graph and spotted the change, I wouldn't have known there was anything wrong. That's why men need to take responsibility for their health. Don't wait for symptoms. By then, it could be too late." Mike urges men to check their results on the NHS app which will show a three-year graph indicating concerning rises that GPs may miss. [Image text:] NILBY MOUTH