'I want to be of value': Mansfield Town director Sid Pepper explains why he has refused treatment for prostate cancer diagnosis
Sid Pepper has opened up on his recent prostate cancer diagnosis and delivered a very honest explanation behind his decision to turn down treatment and his outlook on life.
The Mansfield Town director says he had ‘been blessed’ in life with his health up until his diagnosis five weeks ago. Now, he is learning to live with prostate cancer while focusing on still being the man he and everyone close to him knows best.
Pepper, 76, has started a podcast and chose to use his first episode to explain why he is not pursuing treatment for his cancer, while also passing on advice to others.
The ‘Pep Talk’ podcast has been 20 years in the making and now, the Stags director and local businessman has puts the wheels in motion alongside friend and Mansfield Radio host Ian ‘Watko’ Watkins.
In the pilot episode of ‘Pep Talk’, Pepper admitted he is determined to keep living his life as he knows it best and most importantly, be the best version of himself for as long as possible. This is the reason why he has decided not to undergo treatment.
“There’s more people with this than you can ever imagine. I’m viewing this at the age of 76 – if I was 65 it would be different, I would snatch their hands off. But I want to be Sid for as long as I can be, and that’s the working Sid, and everything about Sid.
“I don’t wish to embark upon something that would maybe challenge that. I want quality of life, not quantity of life. I see no point in seeing 85 bedridden, what’s the point? It’s a very simplistic view.
“I don’t want to be around at any cost. I want to be of value, I want to be working – don’t forget I’m still working and I couldn’t imagine life not working. It’s what’s always driven me and if you take away that purpose, I’d fade away anyway.”
Pepper discussed how he uses humour to navigate his way through tough times but he also explained he is not afraid of his diagnosis, nor of death. He isn’t willing to let anything stand in his way and he remains passionate about focusing on his work, including Mansfield Town’s ongoing stadium project, which involves the renovation of the Radford Family Stand.
“I’m elderly but I don’t feel elderly and I don’t want to think of myself as elderly, but unfortunately these things come along and trip me up. I’m not fearful of cancer, I’m not fearful of dying, I just want to embrace every day as we go forward now.
“I don’t need sympathy and it’s not going to stop me doing the filming for the new stadium. That’s now what I’m targeting and it’s going to take over a year, so as far as I’m concerned, I’ve got to get that done. That gives me a purpose and a drive.”
Pepper also offered some advice and stressed the importance of keeping up to date with your health and being tuned into what your body is going through.
“This is something I’d like people to take from this show. If they can afford it, they should have their bloods taken every six months – certainly if you’re over 60. Because that measures everything and tells you the state of your body.
“You will know what element is failing and what could do with some support. One of the things you have tested is your PSA, mine was slightly raised and that was enough to trigger scans and all the rest of it. So it’s all from the blood tests and I can’t recommend that highly enough.”
You can listen to ‘Pep Talk’ on Acast and other podcast platforms, including Apple and Spotify.