A GLASGOW grandfather who survived prostate cancer is backing a campaign which aims to change the way people think about the disease.

Robert Hay, 65, has shared his story in a bid to encourage people to act early and get any symptoms checked out by their GP.

Robert, who was diagnosed with early stage prostate cancer in 2012, had surgery and was given the all-clear two years later.

The campaign, entitled Survivors, is a push on radio, TV and online to stop people from being too scared to flag up health concerns or take part in regular screening programmes.

More people are surviving cancer than ever before and acting early – whether it’s posting a completed bowel screening test, attending a mammogram or having a prostate examination – is one of the reasons why.

Robert said: “After diagnosis I had a few options, because the cancer was in such early stages. For me it was an easy decision. Taking away the prostate almost guaranteed that the cancer would be completely removed and there’d be no chance of it growing or spreading. I found the whole process incredibly easy.

“I suffered no pain, had little discomfort and was quickly able to enjoy a normal life. I was only off my work for just over four weeks and quickly got back into a normal routine.”

The Scottish Government’s Detect Cancer Early Programme, which has been running since 2012, aims to reinforce the fact that more people survive cancer than die from it.

For further information visit getcheckedearly.org