Taking a punt by Peter Endersbee

Wakefield Press, 2016. ISBN 9781743054093
(Age: Adult) Peter Endersbee, a photographer and former football star, was confronted with the shock diagnosis of serious prostate cancer at the age of 59. He describes how he came to the decision to go ahead with the surgery which, whilst life-saving, would potentially leave him incontinent and impotent. I must confess that in the early parts of the book I, like some of his family and friends, found myself wishing he would just toughen up and get over the fear about lost erections - after all he had his life, as well as a loving supportive partner. But with further reading I came to understand that as with any loss, there is a rollercoaster of emotions, and most particularly grief and anxiety over loss of identity. Endersbee is in fact very brave in revealing his struggle, putting it into words that can be shared with others undergoing the same trauma, breaking the silence about secret men's business. This incredibly honest book would be helpful to anyone facing a similar situation, and also helpful to family and friends trying to understand and be supportive.
Helen Eddy