Cancer diagnoses made us closer, say four brothers

Four brothers who were all diagnosed with prostate cancer within six months of each other said going through treatment together had "brought us closer together".

Steve Hastings, 71, said his three younger brothers - Jim, Andy and Tim - followed his lead when he requested a prostate specific antigen (PSA) test two years ago.

The Lancashire siblings still undergo regular check ups, but have now all been given the all-clear.

"As a family we strongly believe that every man should have the right to have a PSA test," he said. "Get it done, get it checked and get on with it."

Steve, who was diagnosed at 68, said: "Initially you're worried until you know what the severity is, but we just took everything in our stride.

"We said it will be what it will be and when we get the results we'll know what we're faced with.

"We got the pathway in front of us with the oncologist and urologist and we just went from there," he said.

"We've just got through it day by day."

Steve finished radiotherapy on Christmas Eve 2024, and was told the following January that "everything was fine".

He said all the medical teams at Preston Royal had been "absolutely fantastic", with their treatment "managed very professionally".

"Overall I feel like I'm doing well and generally I'm quite happy," he said.

"I feel quite good about it, I'm still here breathing, I'm happy and if anything it's brought us closer."

Tim Hastings, the youngest of the brothers, was the first to be diagnosed in November 2023. He was given the "all clear" last year.

Older brother Andy had been having tests every year and received his diagnosis in February 2024.

The 66-year-old opted to have his prostate removed three months later and is now clear of the disease.

After being diagnosed he said: "You look at life differently.

"You think 'let's go out there and live it' instead of just plodding along."

Jim Hastings, 68, learned he had prostate cancer in May 2024 and completed his radiotherapy six months later.

"Cancer's a frightening word, but the treatment's not a problem," he said.

"You just sit there for 15 minutes and that's basically it."

The brothers are keen to urge other men to have regular tests for the disease.

"By and large we're coming out of it smiling," Steve said.

"We're facing the future and we're still thinking it's positive and that's what we want to convey to other people."

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