Lakeside legend Martin Adams discusses brush with cancer

The three-time world champion discovered he had cancer in 2016, following a blood test at his local GP. Thanks to successful treatment, Adams was given the all-clear, with chances of a recurrence severely reduced. The Lincolnshire-based thrower is now campaigning on behalf of Macmillan Cancer Support.
“A lot of people call it the silent killer because there are not necessarily any symptoms. I didn’t have any symptoms and I know lots of people that have never had any symptoms. Or it’s been minor stuff they’ve brushed aside," he said.
“One in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. And if you’re black it’s one in four. Unbelievable. It shouldn’t just be down to charitable organisations. The government should be doing more. They should stop wasting money elsewhere and channel it into cancer research. But our government does some bloody silly things.”
Adams, now the world number 27, played in his 25th World Championship in January. He lost 3-2 to eventual finalist Mark McGeeney, falling short in a sudden death leg. But, after his health struggles, Wolfie has gained an acute sense of perspective.
“It made me value the simple things in life. My gardening got brilliant. It’s very peaceful in the garden, tinkering away, and this time of year is great because I just put my tomato seeds in. My tomatoes and marrows are brilliant," Adams said.
His next challenge is helping a campaign which is “aimed at working men. Blokes on the building site. You come in the pub but, instead of talking about football, talk about your health. You can bet your life if you’ve got eight blokes in here one of them could have prostate cancer and not know it.”