Brothers urge men to check for prostate cancer

Two brothers who had prostate cancer surgery within weeks of each other are calling on men with a family history of the disease to get themselves checked.

David and Robert Taylor both had robotic radical prostatectomies – removal of the prostate gland – at the Royal United Hospital (RUH) in Bath last year.

Robert, 67, from Saltford near Bath, had his surgery in July, while David, 70, from Midsomer Norton, followed just a few weeks later, in September.

"You have a higher chance of getting prostate cancer if you have a history of that type of cancer in your family," David said. "So if that's you, please do get yourself a GP appointment and get checked."

Robert was attending a general check-up with a GP when he was advised to have a blood test to check for prostate conditions.

"The reading came back high so I was quickly referred to the RUH," he said.

"I spoke to my brother about it and that's when he decided to get a test done."

David said: "Our father and uncle both had prostate cancer, so when Robert had his test done and it came back with a high reading I decided to get one done too.

He added: "My reading was also high so, like Robert, I was referred straight to the RUH."

The brothers' surgeries were carried out using the RUH's Da Vinci surgical robot.

The RUH said recovery times from the operation are now very short because the robot is extremely precise.

It meant Robert was able to be sent home on the same day as his surgery and David stayed at the RUH for just one night.

"It was incredible to think that I'd just had major surgery and could get home the same day," Robert said.

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