Cricket legend Allan Lamb is thankful for the private medical insurance (PMI) cover and his strong mentality honed during 25 years at the crease for supporting his encounter with prostate cancer.
And Lamb (pictured) is using his notoriety and reputation to spread the word and break social embarrassment about the disease and what to look out for.
Speaking to Health & Protection about the past few months, Lamb revealed the alarm was first raised during a routine NHS health screening in early August.
Blood tests showed his Prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a protein produced by normal as well as malignant cells of the prostate gland, was higher than usual.
Following a biopsy and MRI scan at the start of September, it was confirmed he had early stage prostate cancer.
But through his medical cover with Vitality, Lamb was able to see a consultant the day after his health check revealed his high PSA level.
He has now completed his full course of radiotherapy just three months later and said he is now focused on getting on with his life.
Lamb explained it was vital to get a quick diagnosis and treatment to support his positive outcome.
“Once my doctor said my PSA level had gone up and he was trying to get me to see someone at Northampton, I said I was going to use my medical insurance,” Lamb said.
“So I contacted Vitality straight away and went on [to the pathway] straight away so the progress was very quick.
“A lot of people can’t afford private insurance but I’ve always felt that your health must come first so that’s one of the reasons I took out private cover.
“I’ve always had private cover because of being a sportsman, with breakages, getting ill and loss of earnings and whatever. I just think at a late age you definitely should be covered because that’s where things can go wrong.”
Getting on with it
Lamb, who captained England in the early 1990s and was part of the England squad which narrowly missed out on the 1992 cricket world cup, revealed the mentality required for a successful career in cricket is helping him in his current battle.
“When we played, we weren’t told we were getting picked for England for the summer, we didn’t know if we would be in for one test match or two test matches,” he continued.
“It was survival and you had to get on and deal with it, otherwise they didn’t pick you – so I think all that has helped me.
“I can self motivate. You’ve got to believe in yourself and I believe in life there’s not much you can do – if it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen. That’s the way I’ve felt with getting prostate cancer, I thought I may get it so I’ve got to handle it.”
People are embarrassed to speak about it
Lamb added he has been a prostate cancer campaigner for many years after a friend was diagnosed with the condition and survived.
Since that point he has been involved with raising money for prostate cancer including a charity dinner every other year, adding he always thought he may one day be diagnosed with prostate cancer.
“I just had a funny feeling I would end up getting prostate cancer and I got it. It never really came as a massive shock to me,” he said.
“I think it’s one in eight men in this country get it, it’s incredible. This is why people are dying. It is due to the fact that people are embarrassed to speak about it or let anyone know or go and see a doctor and they leave it too late and that’s it.
“I know people don’t like to tell everyone about their health but if I can save lives and get the message out to people [that’s important].
“I think I’ve been successful because so many people have contacted me and one or two have got it. They’ve gone in and been tested. So I think we’re going in the right direction.”