Please Leave The Seat Up!

About the Book

This book is essential reading for any man over 50 or anyone who has been diagnosed with the "Big C". Not that this is a word that Brian uses to describe the nightmare he faced soon after arriving in America to take up a new job. An early visit to the doctors revealed a prostate problem, and his story is in part a diary of events covering the diagnosis of cancer and the treatment of his illness. In order to understand matters better, Brian gives us very informative descriptions of the organ and the treatment options for prostate cancer (one of the highest killers of men over 50), and that alone is a very useful education for the layman.

But the story is much more than a diary or medical description. It's a story of courage and strength, and a laser focused determination to beat the disease. It's also a tender and intimate story of Brian's own reflections on his condition and his relationship with his wife Carol and his dealings with her roller coaster emotions as successes and setbacks unfold.

Brian confronts adversity with a superb use of humour: every horrific event is balanced with an irreverent anecdote. His description of a 'Digital Rectal Examination' sets the tone of the book and later, recovering from the operation, the farting competition with a fellow sufferer brings tears to your eyes!

This is a story that will give moral support and comfort to anyone suffering from a major illness.

About the Author

Brian Turner was born in Sutton, Surrey in 1951: the fourth of eight children. He has a daughter from his first marriage. He married his second wife, Carol, in 1980. He served in the Royal Navy for seven years as an engineer, before making a career ashore. He worked for Britain's largest oil company for over 20 years in various engineering positions. He was posted to Houston Texas, USA in 2002 to take a leading role in managing the company's energy use. Shortly after arriving in America, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, which brought his career to an abrupt end. He is now retired and lives with his wife in Hampshire.