A nurse has opened up about her struggle dealing with her father's death after he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Karen Bonner, 48, from Tottenham, lost her dad Egbert in 2014, four years after he was first diagnosed with the disease.

Egbert had been suffering from bleeding, sexual dysfunction and enlarged veins, which prompted him to visit his GP.

After tests, Egbert was told he had aggressive prostate cancer, which had spread to his pelvis and was given a prognosis of a few years.

Karen had been away on her honeymoon at the time and was told the news by Egbert when she returned home.

She said: “I found dealing with dad’s diagnosis difficult at times, as I struggled between being a daughter and a nurse.

“For me, as a nurse, I wanted to make sure that my dad was getting the right treatment and care, but as his daughter, I was devastated.

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“When my dad broke the news to my siblings, they were very upset that he only had a matter of time. We were all distraught at the thought of losing our dad.”

Egbert was put on hormone therapy, which he stayed on for the rest of his life.

However, he was not suitable for further treatment - and suffered from side effects of the hormone therapy, including weight gain and hot flushes.

Karen said: “My dad was an amazing man and I made sure that he died with the dignity he deserved.

“For me as a nurse, seeing people pass away is a part of my job and I have always treated everyone with empathy and kindness.

“However, I feel that my dad’s passing has helped me to be a better nurse, as after losing him to prostate cancer, I now truly understand what people go through when they lose someone close to them.”

London March for Men

Now, Karen is determined to raise awareness for the disease, particularly in the black community, by walking Prostate Cancer UK’s London March for Men in Stratford at Queen Elizbeth Park on Saturday.

It is estimated that one in four black men will get prostate cancer, meaning they are more at risk than white men, with 1 in 8 being diagnosed with the disease.

Karen said: “When my dad first heard the news about his diagnosis, he wasn’t surprised and was quite relaxed about the situation.

“He was aware that as a black man and a man in his 70s, he had an increased risk of getting prostate cancer. “

Karen attended London’s March for Men in 2017 and 2018. This year, the march is expecting to see 2,500 people attend.

She said: “Prostate Cancer UK’s March for Men was a great experience and for me, very important.

“The event gave me time to reflect on my dad and his life. I also found comfort in meeting other people who have also been affected by the disease.

“My message to anyone thinking about taking part in Prostate Cancer UK’s March for Men is go out and march for in memory of someone that matters to you. Give yourself time to think about them and do something to help men affected by this terrible disease.”

Several marches will go ahead across the country throughout June.