[Music]

My name's Alfie Cook, I'm 66 years of age and I'm suffering with prostate cancer

When I was first diagnosed with cancer I just couldn't believe it

and so your body just accepts it but then the following day and the following morning when I woke

and I thought 'Oh dear, what's wrong with me?' and then subsequent mornings from there on,

it took me a lot to get going, and a lot to come to terms with what was really wrong with me.

Depression is a very dark thing. It's a very personal thing.

It's a thing that is very hard to explain. You lose interest in everything.

You lose your appetite. Nothing seems to give you a lift any more and you wonder why because you know it should do.

Depression is taboo with a lot of people because basically they don't understand it.

They think if you're fed up, you're depressed.

Being fed up is nothing to do with depression whatsoever.

Once you're in this bubble it's a job to get out of it.

It's a job to see out of it.

And it's a job to explain to anyone who's never experienced depression.

It's very important to talk to other people. Especially people who know about depression.

It's very important to come to Macmillan.

You can talk to those there because all of them will understand that this depression is part of your cancer.

Part of your side effects. It is a very, very prominent side effect with a lot of people, more so than others

After speaking to the psychologist at Macmillan, I realised that I wasn't on my own with this depression feeling

with having cancer. It was all explained to me very, very clearly and very plainly. That it would go away.

And indeed, I'm feeling lots, lots better due to the advice that I've had.

The first problem that I wanted to get sorted out was the early morning depression that I suffered.

So I spoke to the psychologist and I found out that fatigue and depression is quite normal with this condition that I have.

My health has improved. I do a lot of walking. I do about nine miles a week - three miles at a time.

But fast walking and jogging. When I come in from that my depression is gone.

Another thing with depression is you must keep yourself busy.

You must keep your mind occupied. Try to stop thinking about yourself - it's no good at all.

Even small tasks - washing up, cleaning up, gardening, washing your van -

anything to keep your mind off the depression.

I take a light anti-depressant pill once a day.

Whether this is helping me or not I don't know really.

I still take it but I don't like to think I'm reliant on tablets.

Anyone suffering in the same way as I do - the best way out is to go to Macmillan.

Ask for help. The volunteer will point you in the direction of which specialist you need.

And if you need your depression sorting out the psychologist is there to help you.

Believe me, you're not on your own. They understand fully where you're coming from.

And they're the ones to see. You've really, really got to go and see them.

Because without them, it's even more difficult to do on your own

and with Macmillan you're not alone - they know all about what you're going through.

For information, help or if you just want to chat

call the Macmillan Support Line on 0808 808 00 00 or visit macmillan.org.uk