Former Premier League goalkeeper Shaka Hislop has announced that he is being treated for prostate cancer, which has spread to his pelvic bone. The 56-year-old discovered the disease after a routine physical 18 months ago, when an elevated PSA level led to further tests confirming an aggressive form of cancer. He underwent prostate removal surgery last December, but a rise in PSA six months later revealed the cancer had spread, prompting medication and a seven-and-a-half-week course of radiation therapy that he has just completed.
Hislop—who played for Newcastle, West Ham, Portsmouth and represented Trinidad and Tobago at the 2006 World Cup—used his message to urge men, especially those of African or Caribbean descent, to get checked regularly. He stressed that early detection is key, noting that even without a family history, prostate cancer can appear unexpectedly.
“Know your PSA, track its history,” he said. “Prostate cancer is survivable if caught early enough. Testing saves lives. It saved mine.”
