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Father and son team tackle the Virgin London Marathon

Matt Woods is a professional singer/song writer, originally from Cornwall, living in London and is also, along with his father Peter, one of our 2012 Virgin London Marathon team.

While on holiday in Cornwall in August 1999 Matt’s maternal grandfather, Howell, became anxious about increased night time visits to the toilet and on his return went to see his GP.  On discovering an enlarged prostate his GP referred him to a consultant urologist for further tests. 

A biopsy confirming malignant prostate cancer was taken and Howell began a course of medication and received a Zolodex implant every three months.  He also underwent an operation to increase the flow of urine from the bladder.

Over the next six years Howell continued with life as normal, except for two further operations to try to increase the urine flow, his social life was unaffected and he continued to attend cricket and rugby matches as well as enjoying holidays with the family.

In early 2008 he started to experience pain in his right thigh and, on the instructions of his daughters, returned to his GP where a scan revealed cancer in his pelvic bone.  Radiotherapy treatment for this was successful and relieved the pain.  But it was the summer of 2009 that Howell's prostate problems began to seriously worsen.  His PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) level showed a sudden rise so his medication was increased but this didn’t seem to make any difference and his PSA level continued to rise.  On the advice of an oncologist he began a course of chemotherapy but, as can be the case, became quite unwell.  Feeling exhausted and lacking energy, Howell struggled to climb more than two stairs and having lost his appetite completely lost a vast amount of weight.

Drinking (and enjoying) several pints of Guinness nightly and eating (but not enjoying!) Forticreme provided on subscription for nourishment was the only way to keep his calorie intake up.  The chemo had worked though and his PSA level had dropped from 100 – 15.  By January 2010 he began to reduce his intake of Guinness and introduce a variety of foods to his diet again..

Today Howell continues to see his oncologist and recently had more radiotherapy on his pelvis.  Other than having to use a stick, and the odd painkiller, life is pretty normal.  In fact Howell told us he is very much looking forward to a ’normal’ Christmas dinner  and sharing a few bottles of ‘bubbly’ with his family!

Matt has been planning a charity gig to be held at The Retreat in Essex on Saturday 26^th November.  Entry is free with donations for the charity being collected on the night. 

For more information www.myspace.com/themattwoods

To support Matt & Peter in their marathon challengeto sponsor them.