Long, long ago, well actually it was only 18 months ago, but it seems like a lifetime.
I was sat in a local club, that I'd only just joined. I didn't know anyone. I was sat on my own looking forlornly into my pint. I was feeling sorry for myself. I'd just been told that during active surveillance my prostate cancer had significantly progressed and I needed radical treatment.
I'd done some research, and had decided to have robotic surgery. I was anxious about the procedure and the side effects.
Sat at a nearby table were a group of men and women, who I now know are regulars. One of the blokes was wearing the Prostate Cancer UKs, Man of Men pin badge and he was talking about the disease.
At an appropriate pause in the conversation, when most of them had gone out for a fag. I approached the badge wearer and told him that I also had cancer.
He was brilliant. He sat with me, and over a couple of drinks discussed his treatment. Unbelievably, only 6 months previously, he'd had the same surgery at the same hospital that I was booked into.
We nattered for over an hour. At the end of it I felt so much better.
I'm now a regular and me and the prostate cancer badge bloke have become good pals. I now wear the same badge.
He, like me, is making good progress. His PSA checks have all come back undetectable.
Perhaps, one day, someone else with the same concerns, may join us for a pint.
Last year our club chose Prostate Cancer UK as one of it's charities and raised almost four hundred quid.
That little Men Utd badge now means a lot to me and I wear it with pride. Do you?
Adrian.