Four Brothers Diagnosed with Prostate Cancer at the Same Time Say They're 'Closer' Now
Four brothers who were each diagnosed with prostate cancer within six months of one another have told the BBC that the experience brought them closer together.
Steve Hastings, the eldest brother of the family, received his diagnosis at age 68. His younger brothers Jim, Andy, and Tim were each diagnosed after they all asked for a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) following Steve's experience.
The youngest brother, Tim, was the first to be diagnosed back in November 2023, and was told he's recovered from the disease in 2025. Steve finished treatment on Christmas Eve in 2024 before he was told he was in the clear in January 2025, and Andy was diagnosed in February 2024.
The Hastings brothers agree having prostate cancer "brought us closer together"
The four brothers told the BBC that experiencing prostate cancer at the same time has actually strengthened their bond and "brought us closer together."
"Initially you're worried until you know what the severity is, but we just took everything in our stride," Steve said. We said it will be what it will be and when we get the results we'll know what we're faced with."
He added: "We got the pathway in front of us with the oncologist and urologist and we just went from there. We've just got through it day by day."
Ultimately, Steve said he is "happy" and heaped praise on the medical team at Royal Preston Hospital. "I feel quite good about it, I'm still here breathing, I'm happy and if anything it's brought us closer," he added.
His brother Andy echoed that sentiment and said that experiencing cancer has changed how he sees the world around him. "You look at life differently," Andy told the outlet. "You think 'let's go out there and live it' instead of just plodding along."
The prostate-specific antigen test registers PSA in the blood
According to Cancer.gov, the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test registers the amount of PSA in the blood. The website also notes that both prostate cancer and other benign conditions can contribute to raised levels of PSA. a
The test used to be part of routine care, but in 2008 medical experts began recommending that people who are interested in the test first "discuss the risks and benefits with their doctors before making a decision." Men who are at higher risk of prostate cancer are encouraged to get the test beginning between ages 40 and 45.
The biggest pro of PSA test is that it can detect cancer early, but one of its potential flaws is that some cancers the test can detect "grow so slowly that they would never cause symptoms or become life threatening. However, treating them can cause harms," the website explains, which in turn exposes men to treatment they may never have had to receive.
Doctors refer to this as overtreatment, and Cancer.gov notes that this comes with its own risks — including urinary, bowel, and sexual side effects. On top of that, early detection of prostate cancer may not lead to being cured of the disease.