Former Newcastle goalkeeper Shaka Hislop has revealed that he's been battling prostate cancer, a disease that's ravaged his body and forced him to undergo multiple rounds of treatment.
The 56-year-old Hislop was first diagnosed with "fairly aggressive" prostate cancer 18 months ago. He had undergone surgery as part of his treatment, but the cancer came back six months later, spreading to his pelvic bone. Since then, he's been undergoing medication and radiation therapy.
In a powerful plea for awareness, Hislop is urging men, particularly those from Caribbean descent, who are over 40 or 50 respectively, to get tested for prostate cancer regularly. Despite having no family history of the disease, Hislop believes that regular screenings can save lives and notes that testing his own PSA levels saved his life.
His appeal comes as the UK National Screening Committee recently recommended against making routine prostate cancer screening available to most men in the UK. However, Hislop is adamant that men should take action if they're concerned about their health.
As a former professional footballer who played for Trinidad and Tobago at the 2006 World Cup, Hislop understands the importance of staying active and healthy. He's now on the road to recovery, completing his radiation therapy just this morning after seven and a half weeks in the treatment room.
Hislop's story serves as a stark reminder that prostate cancer is often silent, with symptoms not appearing until it's too late. But by getting tested and taking action early, men can increase their chances of survival and beat the disease. His own case proves that this message is more than just a warning – it's a promise of hope for those who are fighting against prostate cancer.
The 56-year-old Hislop was first diagnosed with "fairly aggressive" prostate cancer 18 months ago. He had undergone surgery as part of his treatment, but the cancer came back six months later, spreading to his pelvic bone. Since then, he's been undergoing medication and radiation therapy.
In a powerful plea for awareness, Hislop is urging men, particularly those from Caribbean descent, who are over 40 or 50 respectively, to get tested for prostate cancer regularly. Despite having no family history of the disease, Hislop believes that regular screenings can save lives and notes that testing his own PSA levels saved his life.
His appeal comes as the UK National Screening Committee recently recommended against making routine prostate cancer screening available to most men in the UK. However, Hislop is adamant that men should take action if they're concerned about their health.
As a former professional footballer who played for Trinidad and Tobago at the 2006 World Cup, Hislop understands the importance of staying active and healthy. He's now on the road to recovery, completing his radiation therapy just this morning after seven and a half weeks in the treatment room.
Hislop's story serves as a stark reminder that prostate cancer is often silent, with symptoms not appearing until it's too late. But by getting tested and taking action early, men can increase their chances of survival and beat the disease. His own case proves that this message is more than just a warning – it's a promise of hope for those who are fighting against prostate cancer.
. 1 in 8 men will get prostate cancer at some point in their lives, and if we don't take action, the stats are grim 
. 10,000 new cases in the UK alone every year... that's 27 people a day 
. PSA levels can be low-risk, but it's always better to err on the side of caution 
. The thing is, prostate cancer is super silent, so if you're not feeling anything, don't think you're off the hook 
. 40/50+ guys from Caribbean descent need to get tested ASAP - we can't stress this enough 
. Shaka's story might be a warning, but it's also a beacon of hope 
... let's make sure more men like him are empowered with knowledge and action 
. By the way, have you seen the 5-year survival rate for prostate cancer? It's around 92% if diagnosed early 
... that's what we're talking about here! 
I'm thinking about Shaka Hislop right now 
, what a brave guy sharing his story to help others be aware of prostate cancer 
! It's crazy how silent this disease can be until symptoms show up 
. 7.5 weeks in the treatment room is no joke, but it sounds like Shaka's getting close to finishing his radiation therapy 
He's been through hell and back, but he's still fighting and inspiring others to get tested! I think the UK National Screening Committee needs to chill out on this routine screening thing. I mean, it's better to be safe than sorry, right? And Shaka's PSA levels being a game-changer is proof that these tests can save lives 
. I wish more men from diverse backgrounds would take prostate cancer seriously and get checked out. It's time to break the silence around this disease and support guys like Shaka who are breaking barriers 
. As a 40-something myself, I think regular PSA tests can be super helpful, especially if you're from a Caribbean background like Shaka is. It's crazy that the UK government isn't making routine screenings more available, though - it just seems like common sense to me 
. Shaka's message about staying active and healthy is spot on too; I try to get in a workout every day to keep my energy up while I'm going through treatment for some other health issues right now 
.
. Let's make some noise about prostate cancer awareness and get more guys tested!
. Cancer's a harsh mistress, though. I'm glad Shaka's speaking out about this, he's doing his part to raise awareness. Can't stress enough how important regular check-ups are, especially for those from Caribbean descent (my family too, btw). Don't wait till it's too late, like some people do 
). But it's not just about the PSA levels, it's about staying on top of your health and catching any issues early. I'm actually gonna make sure to book my own appointment ASAP 
, better safe than sorry!
, I remember when David Beckham was diagnosed back in 2007... anyway, Shaka Hislop is a total legend and his story is giving me all the feels 
. I'm so glad he's spreading awareness about getting tested, it's not just about men over 40/50 from Caribbean descent, anyone should be checking their PSA levels! 
I mean, Shaka Hislop's story is so inspiring, but we should be able to share it easily on our feeds without having to search for hours for the latest updates 
. And can they please just add a "Cancer Awareness" feature to their homepage already? It's like they think men over 40 are invisible 
. Come on, platforms! Let's get with the times and make a real difference 
Shaka Hislop's story is a total game-changer, getting tested saved his life 
psa levels are key! 
did u know that PSA levels can detect prostate cancer up to 2 years before symptoms appear? 
it's not just about getting tested, it's about staying active & healthy 
like Shaka Hislop, a former pro footballer who played for Trinidad & Tobago at the 2006 World Cup! 
get tested, stay informed, and support those who are fighting against prostate cancer 
. I'm glad he spoke out about his experience and is trying to help others, though. It's crazy that the UK National Screening Committee isn't recommending routine screenings for all men 
. As someone who's not a doctor or anything, I just want people to be aware of the risks and take care of themselves 
. Hislop's story is really inspiring too, he's proof that getting tested early can make a huge difference 
Did you know that 1 in 8 men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime? 
In fact, according to the BBC, over 12,000 new cases are diagnosed each year... that's roughly 34 per day! 
As I was looking up stats on prostate cancer, I came across this: did you know that PSA levels (a common test for prostate cancer) have dropped by 44% over the past decade in men aged 50-70? 
.
if a PSA test can save someone's life, why not do it? Hislop knows that firsthand because he was able to catch his cancer early and beat it. And it's not just about men over 40 or 50, anyone who's concerned should get tested! 
I wish more people would share their stories like Hislop is... it makes you realize how silent this disease can be 
at least he's on the road to recovery now, and hopefully his story will inspire others to get checked out