A MAN may think there is something wrong with his health, but he’ll keep it to himself, while a woman will talk to another woman about it.

This is something Lloyd Younger, of North Rockhampton, knows only too well.

“What men don’t realise is that if something is wrong it not only affects them, but their wife or partner and their whole family,” he said.

Lloyd received his major wake-up call in mid-2007 when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Fortunately the cancer was robotically removed in a Melbourne Hospital in October, 2007. Lloyd was just 49 years old.

Because of the strong emotional support he and his family received from the Central Queensland Prostate Support and Awareness Group in Rockhampton, Lloyd has become a Men’s Health ambassador speaker with the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.

He is also now president of the Prostate Support and Awareness Group.

“I was 49, but there are men who are being diagnosed at 30,” Lloyd said.

“You never think it is going to happen at our age, but when dc shoes it does it can totally change your life,” he said.

“I used to give blood regularly and in 2005 I went to give blood and they couldn’t find iron in my blood.

“I went again in 2006 and again there 59fifty was no iron,” Lloyd said.

In 2008 he was sent to see a urologist, and the biopsy came back positive.

“It was a major shock, but my whole family was very positive and helped me thought it.

“Dr Ping was connected with the CQ Prostate Support and Awareness Group and suggested I go along to a meeting.

“The support I received from John Milne and members of the group was unbelievable.

“It was quite unreal, and very comforting,” he said.

Lloyd, who is married with four children and two grandchildren, said he had no hesitation going to Melbourne to have the cancer removed.

“I want to be around for a long time,” he said

Knowing how important it is to educate other local men and to increase community awareness of prostate health and continence health conditions, Lloyd now goes out to speak to as many groups of men as he can.

As an ambassador speaker he has spoken workgroup tool box meetings, to 250 men at Stanwell Power Station and to local Rotarians.

As a Workplace Health and Safety Queensland senior inspector, Lloyd’s work often takes him out of town and puts him in contact with men’s workgroups.

He said he would like to speak to as many community clubs and sporting organisations as he can on the importance of men’s health and maintaining regular contact with their GP.

Lloyd is happy to give a 15-minute, 30-minute or 40-minute presentation to any group. He can be contacted on 4928 6655 or 0437 727 657.

He also invites anyone who is concerned or has been diagnosed with prostate cancer along to the CQ Prostate Support and Awareness Group, which meets at Community Health, Bolsover Street, Rockhampton, at hermes handbags 7.30pm on the third Thursday of each month.