To PSA Test or Not to PSA Test? That Is the Question.

I was heartbroken to read the candid and brave account that Sir Chris Hoy shared about his metastatic prostate cancer diagnosis. His story prompted me to share my own experience in the hope of encouraging my friends, colleagues, and other men they may know to consider getting the PSA blood test.

The Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test is a simple and inexpensive tool that can help detect potential prostate issues early.

In 2023, a friend of mine discovered through a PSA test that his levels were high. After an MRI and biopsy, it was confirmed that he had locally confined prostate cancer. He completed radiotherapy and is now considered successfully treated. He had been urging me to get a PSA test for some time, but like many men, I kept putting it off. I thought prostate cancer was something that happened to other people, not me, and I didn't have any symptoms (which, at the time, I didn't even know what to look for).

However, six months after I should have sorted the test, I added a PSA test to a routine "Wellman" checkup, which included other blood tests. The result came back with higher-than-normal levels, so I was advised to repeat the test in three months. The second result was still elevated but no higher than the first. My GP suggested no immediate action but recommended that I continue monitoring the levels. However, I decided to pursue further investigation and requested a referral to the hospital.

A month later, I had an MRI scan, which immediately revealed a suspected tumour. A follow-up biopsy confirmed that I had locally advanced prostate cancer, considered to be at high risk of spreading. Fortunately, a bone scan showed no spread to the bones, which was an incredibly difficult wait—but a huge relief when the results came back clear.

So, three weeks ago, after several consultations, I underwent surgery led by Surgeon Declan Cahill at the Royal Marsden Hospital to remove my prostate. I cannot overstate how amazing he and his team were throughout the process, from helping me make the decision to performing the surgery with such skill and care. Now, I am waiting for the results of a follow-up in December, which will determine whether I’m cancer-free or if I’ll need additional radiotherapy to ensure the cancer is fully eradicated.

So, why am I sharing this with you? The answer is simple. If I hadn’t taken the PSA test this year, I believe that, like Sir Chris Hoy, I might have discovered the cancer much later, perhaps in a year or two, when I would have been complaining about an aching joint only to find that the cancer had spread to other parts of my body, becoming terminal.

A higher-than-normal PSA score doesn’t automatically mean you have prostate cancer, but it’s a sign that further investigation may be needed. In my case, the MRI scan was quite conclusive. While I don’t have a crystal ball, I’m confident that the treatment I’ve received has likely given me many more years of healthy living.

I was fortunate to have the support of my family, friends, and my employer, Cornerstone, throughout this difficult time, as well as access to the best healthcare. I recognise that for some men, getting a PSA test and dealing with the potential consequences can be much harder, especially if they don’t have the same level of support that I did.

So, to answer the question, “To PSA test or not to PSA test?”—it has to be a resounding "Yes" for any man over 50. For those with a family history of prostate cancer, it may need to be even earlier.

Prostate cancer is the leading cancer killer of men, but we have a simple, affordable test available that can help provide crucial early knowledge. And knowledge, as I’ve learned firsthand, is power.