A grandfather-of-two from Hythe with prostate cancer has said early testing could be critical to saving someone’s life, more than a year after he was diagnosed with the disease.

Ray Dittrich, 67, was diagnosed with the illness in March 2024, before having major surgery in September to remove his prostate.

An instructor with the Hythe Sea Scouts, Ray has helped organise a prostate cancer testing event in Shore Road, on Saturday, June 28.

Speaking to the Echo about his own experience with prostate cancer, Ray said: “It turned family life upside down.

“It was six months from diagnosis to operation, and I was out of action for a month after that.

“I didn’t really have any symptoms, but I knew my urine flow wasn’t quite right. I went for a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test and the cancer was caught late.

“I’m as good as I can be and have quarterly blood checks. I just don’t want anyone else to go through the same thing.

“I remember being at Wembley Stadium for the Championship Playoff Final with my grandson Josh and looking around the stadium thinking, ‘every seven years enough men die to fill this stadium.’”

Ray Dittrich with his wife Bren, daughter Michelle, and grandchildren Josh and Ella (Image: Supplied) READ MORE: Hampshire hospital to receive new cancer treatment machine

The testing event on June 28 in Hythe will last from 11.30am until 3.30pm, and feature refreshments and a live band.

Roughly 35,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year, with 85 per cent of those affected showing no signs of early symptoms.

Speaking on the importance of getting tested, Ray added: “This event is about trying to catch people early enough, as one in eight men are diagnosed with prostate cancer.

“I think there is a bit of a taboo about talking about this kind of thing, but I think someone like Sir Chris Hoy have a made a big difference, because then it’s in the mainstream, and I think that really makes a big difference in raising awareness.

“I don’t want people dying or getting invasive treatment, testing could save a life.

“From the moment I was diagnosed I didn’t want to sneak away; I wanted to be totally open about it from the beginning in the hope of being able to help other people.”