UPDATE - Issue 38 - Autumn 2009
Patient story: Richard Killick
Founder of Update Richard Killick on how he got involved
Richard and his wife Shirley about to walk Hadrian's Wall in 2006
It is twelve years since the very first edition of Update sat on my computer screen. The year before I was relieved of both my prostate and the bulk of the cancer it contained. (My PSA was 19.5 with a Gleason of 7/8 since you ask).
A few weeks after, when attending the Autumn Annual Luncheon, I met the charity’s founder Tony Kilmister and his charming wife Sheila. From them I learnt that a newsletter was required. So with 30 years experience of the digital world of computing and telecommunications, but not any knowledge of desk-top publishing, I volunteered to produce one and was fortunate to team up with my veteran hockey playing printer friend Patrick Martin. Together, we have taken Update through three dozen editions; from four single coloured pages three times a year to eight in full colour every quarter.
The regular patient stories always seem to be well received. We have tried to report on successes and shortcomings of the NHS provision, on new treatments and procedures as they have become available, on alternative therapies, on our own funded research projects and on all prostate diseases. In particular, Update was instrumental in raising the political profile of prostate cancer so that Government funding for research moved from derisory to a level more appropriate to the importance of the disease. Mixed in with all the serious stuff there have been many inspiring, entertaining and well-illustrated fund-raising stories.
" My aim has always been for Update to be a stimulating read for patients "
My aim has always been for Update to be a stimulating read for patients. My personal story has ensured that most topics have been interesting to me. It is good to find some positives from the fact that my cancer has not gone away.
I have experienced several of the side effects of treatment. I have spent many years taking hormone tablets and trying various supplements and have had some fairly recent radiotherapy. So I have first-hand experience of much about which we have written.
My own circumstances are changing. Unfortunately, I now have a new career ahead of me as an almost full time carer. Being editor of Update for so long has been both a privilege and great fun but the time has come for me to step down. I wish the new team every success and look forward to them taking Update to new levels of interest and professionalism.
Thank you Richard
All of us at Prostate UK would like to thank Richard for his outstanding work in creating and developing Update. During his time at the helm, he has informed and inspired our readers with the latest news in the prostate world as well as reporting on fundraising activities and how that money has been spent on information, research and training for clinicians, not to mention the numerous patient stories. We are eternally grateful to him for setting the template and high standard which we will follow.