Former Premier League goalkeeper Shaka Hislop says it’s “alarming” that prostate cancer tests in the UK are not regular or standardised. The 56-year-old was diagnosed in 2024 after requesting a PSA blood test during a check-up in the US.
In the UK, the NHS usually only offers PSA testing to men over 50 or if symptoms appear, even though one in eight menwill develop prostate cancer—and for black men, the risk is one in four. Hislop believes the current testing rules are flawed, especially given the rising risk in certain ethnic communities.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Hislop said he finds it shocking that testing isn’t offered to all men, even without a family history of the disease. He added that he approached his own diagnosis with the same fighter mindset he had during his football career, seeing treatment as a battle rather than something to feel sorry about.
Hislop also highlighted the emotional toll on families, recalling how his wife struggled due to her father’s death from prostate cancer. Despite the challenges, he stayed focused, treating the fight against cancer like a match, fully committed to overcoming it.
