Croydon's own intergalactic villain has become the face of men's health after coming up against his very own Death Star.

Dave Prowse, the man behind the mask of Darth Vader in the classic Star Wars has just finished an eight-week intensive radiotherapy course to cure his prostate cancer.

He was diagnosed in April 2008 after organising a charity golf match for his brother who was also suffering from the illness.

Mr Prowse said: “Cancer runs in my family.

"My mother died of cancer as well as my sister and my niece and my brother was diagnosed recently with prostate cancer.

"We held a charity golf tournament, because he’s a keen golfer, and had storm troopers directing the traffic and telling people off which was brilliant.”

The tournament was in aid of the Prostate Cancer Association (PCA) and it was there he met a representative from the PCA who suggested he go for a test.

“I told her that I was fine and that I had no problems going to the toilet or getting an erection so I left it there.

"A few days later I had to go to the doctors for a repeat prescription, or something along those lines, and that is when I thought it couldn’t hurt to have a test done."

After a series of tests doctors at the Royal Marsden hospital told him that he was suffering from prostate cancer and he should get treatment immediately before it starting spreading and became fatal.

Mr Prowse said: “All I am really trying to do is raise awareness of prostate cancer and help men get over the embarrassment of going to the doctor for an examination.

“There are lots of men out there who won’t go for an examination but the sooner you do the more likely you are to beat it if it is discovered.”

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