Get tested, say four brothers with prostate cancer

Four brothers who were all diagnosed with prostate cancer within six months of each other have urged other men to have regular tests for the disease.

Steve Hastings, 70, said his three younger brothers - Jim, Andy and Tim - followed his lead when he requested a prostate specific antigen (PSA) test last year.

He said he and his siblings, all from Lancashire, should now have great outcomes "because we have been caught early" and received treatment.

Mr Hastings' appeal coincides with the Prostate Cancer Research (PCR) charity calling for an urgent overhaul of prostate cancer screening.

While PSA tests are not automatically offered on the NHS, men aged 50 or over can ask their GP for one even if, like the Hastings brothers, they are not showing any symptoms.

Earlier this month the NHS said it would review its approach after Olympic cycling champion Sir Chris Hoy's "powerful" call for younger men to be tested for prostate cancer.

Tim Hastings, the youngest of the brothers, was the first to be diagnosed in November 2023.

The now 64-year-old, who finished radiotherapy six months ago, said everything was "going fine", adding that he would remain on hormone treatment for another year.

Older by a year, Andy Hastings received his diagnosis in February and opted to have his prostate removed. If the results of his final blood test are good, he will then only need to be checked every 12 months.

Jim Hastings, 67, learned he had prostate cancer in May and completed his radiotherapy last week.

Steve Hastings is due to starts similar treatment next week and is due to finish on Christmas Eve.

Steve Hastings said the whole experience had "brought us four closer".

He added: "We're all fortunate I think that the outcomes are going to be great because we have been caught early.

"Get off your backside and go and get tested because you are not doing yourself or your family any favours.

"Do it - don't be a cancer dancer."

PCR spokesman Oliver Kemp said: "Prostate cancer is taking too many lives, and our current system of 'informed choice' is failing those at greatest risk, especially men with a family history of the disease.

"Our new report shows that a targeted screening programme for this high-risk group could lead to 650 earlier diagnoses annually for those aged 45-69, saving lives and reducing the burden of late-stage treatments on our healthcare system."

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas to [email protected] and via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.