Shaka Hislop: Ex-Premier League star reveals battle with 'aggressive' prostate cancer | OneFootball

Former West Ham and Newcastle goalkeeper has received radiation therapy after cancer spread to his pelvic bone

Former Premier League goalkeeper Shaka Hislop has revealed that he has been battling aggressive prostate cancer.

He has since worked as a football commentator and pundit, primarily for ESPN.

“An MRI and biopsy quickly determined that I had a fairly aggressive prostate cancer. A year ago, almost to the day, December 6 to be exact, I had a radical prostatectomy. And I thought that was it.

“But then, six months later, my PSA was again on the rise and another scan showed that my prostate cancer had spread to my pelvic bone.

“I started on medication pretty soon after, and just this morning completed seven-and-a-half weeks of radiation therapy. The journey continues.”

Hislop went on to urge men everywhere in higher-risk age groups to ensure that they get their prostate checked regularly, speaking particularly to men from the Caribbean.

“Doctors recommend that all men over the age of 50 get their PSA checked regularly,” he said. “If you’re of African descent, that age drops to 40.

“If you’re somewhere like the UK or somewhere else where PSA tests aren’t encouraged, you have got to insist.

“Having a history of cancer in the family doesn’t matter. I had genetic testing done and it showed no traits in my family, yet this year would show that, without going into too much detail, even that didn’t exclude everybody in my immediate family.

“The highest rate of prostate cancer mortality is in Caribbean men, so allow me to speak to my community, my people. Please, go get tested. Know your PSA, track its history.

“Prostate cancer is survivable if caught early enough. There are treatments for it. Testing saves lives. It saved mine.”