Former Premier League goalkeeper Shaka Hislop has revealed he is battling a “fairly aggressive form of prostate cancer”.
Hislop — who played for Newcastle United, West Ham, Portsmouth and MLS side FC Dallas — was initially diagnosed 18 months ago and has undergone medication and radiation therapy.
In a video shared on his social media, the 56-year-old, who has worked as a football commentator and analyst for ESPN since 2008, said the cancer has spread to his pelvic bone and he has recently completed a course of treatment for it.
“Roughly 18 months ago, I went for my annual physical and insisted on a PSA test, as I always do,” said Hislop, referencing the blood test which assesses prostate health.
“This time around though my PSA was elevated. An MRI and biopsy quickly determined that I had a fairly aggressive prostate cancer.
“A year ago, almost to the day, December 6 to be exact, I had a radical prostatectomy, and I thought that was it. But then, six months later, my PSA was again on the rise and another scan showed that my prostate cancer had spread to my pelvic bone. I started on medication pretty soon after, and just this morning completed seven-and-a-half weeks of radiation therapy. The journey continues.”
Hislop, who amassed 26 caps for Trinidad and Tobago between 1999-2006, urged men from Caribbean descent to get tested for prostate cancer.
“Doctors recommend that all men over the age of 50 get their PSA checked regularly,” he said. “If you’re of African descent, that age drops to 40. If you’re somewhere like the United Kingdom or somewhere else where PSA tests aren’t encouraged, you have got to insist.
“The highest rate of prostate cancer mortality is in Caribbean men, so if you allow me to speak to my community, my people. Please, go get tested, know your PSA, track – its history. Prostate cancer is survivable if caught early enough. There are treatments for it.
“Testing saves lives. It saved mine.”