A Spalding darts referee who was diagnosed with stage-three prostate cancer has revealed that his PSA level has fallen sharply after treatment, and is urging other men to get checked early.

Ian, of Westminster Drive, Spalding, was first diagnosed in January after visiting his doctor about another issue. A blood test showed a PSA level of 19.9. He had stage-three cancer, meaning it had broken out of its capsule but had not spread.

In the last few days, Ian was told his PSA level had dropped to 0.14. PSA is a blood-test marker for a specific protein which can indicate a problem.

“My consultant was over the moon. I’m not out of the woods yet, but it’s a big chunk of the way,” he said.

Further treatment planned

Ian will have another round of hormone treatment in December, followed by another PSA measurement in January. If the results are satisfactory, he expects to return for a further check-up six months later.

As part of his treatment, the father of two and grandfather of four had radiotherapy every day for four weeks at Lincoln County Hospital.

He said early diagnosis had changed his attitude towards testing, having spent years encouraging men to seek checks through his work with Prostate Cancer UK. Ian is an ambassador for the charity.

“I want to say to men over the age of 50, for goodness sake go and get checked. It’s a blood test and it could save your life,” he said.

Message reaches other men

Ian said his campaigning had already encouraged at least one man to seek testing. While shopping at Sainsbury’s, he was approached by a man who said he had read Ian’s story in The Voice, got tested and received a positive result.

“I was in Sainsbury’s recently and a man stopped me and said because of the story in the Voice he got tested and it was positive.”

Ian said the man’s wife hugged him and told him he had probably saved her husband’s life. He said the encounter reinforced the importance of men finding out whether they have a problem.

Ian is a popular darts referee locally and nationally and has officiated at the top of the sport. He is known on the circuit as ‘Tarquin Tilley’ and has also been involved with Team Darts, a fundraising group for Prostate Cancer UK set up alongside three-time BDO world champion Martin ‘Wolfie’ Adams.

Before becoming known in darts, Ian worked as a butcher at Bennett’s and as a butchery manager for Grassmere, based at Vine House Farm. He says his recovery is still ongoing, but believes the blood test that led to his diagnosis made an important difference.