MALCOLM Potter hopes he has beaten prostate cancer and now he’s doing what he can to make sure other men survive the ‘silent killer’ – by donning suspenders, stockings and lipstick.

A year ago, Mr Potter, 63, from Banbury, felt he was living under a death sentence.

Diagnosed with cancer of the prostate, the retired logistics customer services manager said: “It was the Big C. I thought I was a goner.”

The prostate is an organ forming part of the male reproductive system and is located immediately below the bladder and just in front of the bowel. Mr Potter underwent surgery to have his prostate and some of his lymph glands removed.

He said “Up until that point I didn’t even really know where my prostate was, or what it did. Then it looked like it might kill me.

“I was told 30 per cent of prostate cancer cases are diagnosed too late, and it kills thousands of men a year. All I could do was hope they got mine in time.”

Blood tests since his surgery have been encouraging.

He explained: “I have had two tests since the surgery, which have been negative for cancer. I have another in August and then six monthly tests until August 2013 and if they remain negative, that’s it – cancer free. All I can do is hope.”

While undergoing treatment, Mr Potter heard about The Drag Race.

He said: “The first Drag Race took place last year in Hackney, East London, on Prostate Cancer Awareness Day, June 19.

“The idea is that men race 10.2km to mark the fact that 10,200 men die from prostate cancer every year in the UK. They also do this dressed as women – in drag – to raise money and literally drag the issue of prostate cancer into the limelight. I knew I wanted to do it immediately.”

Despite being weak and still feeling poorly, Mr Potter completed the course and a year on, fitter and more hopeful, he has just completed his second Drag Race.

“This year’s race took place at Highbury Fields in North London and was well supported,” he said. “My partner Sue Cox did me up as a rather fetching lady again and I was thrilled when John Goust and Jan Turner, who run my local boozer, the Three Pigeons, offered to organise the sponsorship for me.

“Once more I did it with a hoard of men, both young and old. I think it’s a fabulous way to raise awareness of prostate cancer – I intend to do this every year for as long as my body puts up with it.”

Prostate cancer kills almost as many men each year as breast cancer kills women.

Mr Potter said: “Most guys – me included until my own fight with cancer – haven’t a clue what their prostate does, or even where it is, let alone have themselves checked for signs of cancer.

“But I suppose what most men do know about the prostate is that it’s somewhere inside your rear end and that examining it needs a rubber glove – so maybe it’s easier not to think about it.

“But ‘not thinking about it’ kills more than 10,000 fathers, grandfathers and brothers each year. I’m proud to be part of the Drag Race because it is making men take notice of this potentially silent killer.”