SWINDON Council leader Mike Bawden today revealed that he has been fighting prostate cancer since August.

The 61-year-old Conservative councillor for Old Town and Lawn was diagnosed with the disease following a routine blood test with his GP.

He is now midway through a course of 32 radiotherapy treatments at the Churchill Hospital in Oxford and is confident of a full recovery in the New Year.

He told the Evening Advertiser that his chances of returning to full health were aided by the fact the cancer was caught in the very early stages.

After previous prostate problems, he was seeing his doctor on a six-monthly basis to have regular blood checks.

When a check-up in May turned up results that gave cause for concern, he asked for an ultrascan, which showed nothing out of the ordinary.

But a biopsy later in the year revealed the initial stages of cancer, although not in an aggressive form.

Doctors told him that because the disease had been spotted so early, he had a very high chance of recovery.

Coun Bawden said: "I've had prostate problems for about two and a half years and it was because I was getting regular blood checks that this was spotted early.

"I think it serves as a good example as to why men should take better care of themselves these diseases can be awful if they are left unchecked.

"I believe men are not as good as women at looking after their bodies and keeping a check on their health.

"This shows how vitally important it is that if you do notice any changes in your body or suspect something may be wrong, you should discuss it with a doctor as soon as possible.

"One of the tell-tale signs of prostate cancer, for example, is that you go to the toilet more often.

"I think part of the problem in this country is that men tend to be embarrassed or ignorant of the problems, whereas women are more in touch with their bodies.

"Men are very bad at admitting they've got a problem and tend to tell themselves there's nothing wrong."