‘Get checked’: Humberside PCC’s message after prostate cancer diagnosis

IMPORTANT MESSAGE: Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner Jonathan Evison

By Rick Lyon, Co-Editor

Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner Jonathan Evison has revealed he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

March is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and Mr Evison has spoken of his own diagnosis in summer 2023, in a bid to raise awareness.

Following successful external beam radiation treatment in December 2024, he was told the cancer had gone and he was given the all-clear.

Now, Mr Evison is urging men to get checked as early as possible.

He said: “This diagnosis weighed heavy, not only on myself, but my family, friends and colleagues.

“My wife and children were particularly worried, and I will be forever thankful for their sake that I was diagnosed early and it was treatable. If you are worried about a male in your life who may be experiencing symptoms, please encourage them to go and get checked, it could quite literally save their life.

“I am so relieved to be out the other side of this, and feel extremely lucky that I was diagnosed early enough to get treatment. I urge all men to take this small step for their health, for their life and for their family.

“I thought I’d handled it really well following the diagnosis, because I knew the statistics were very positive if it was caught early.

“I was OK until I was given the all-clear, but then all the emotion came out. I was in bits.

“Although I’d been positive throughout, subconsciously I must have been really worried too. There had been days when I’d be thinking ‘this could be my last holiday’. I’d arranged a holiday with all the family, in case it was.

“I’d told the team at the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Humberside, and I’d told the Humberside Police senior leadership team. It didn’t go much beyond that, although I didn’t try and keep it a secret.

“It was stressful, but I continued working. The beam treatment doesn’t stop you working.

“The staff at Castle Hill Hospital, where I was treated, were fantastic. I was amazed at the number of men who were in there though – there were literally dozens.

“The treatment itself was really quick and simple – it only takes five minutes.”

Mr Evison is encouraging men to go on the Prostate Cancer UK website and complete its risk checker, which only takes a few seconds.

He said: “Prevalence is higher in men who’ve had any family members with prostate cancer, in black men and in men aged over 50.

“In this area, the prevalence is no different to anyway else, but late diagnosis is high compared to elsewhere.

“One in eight men will have prostate cancer at some point in their lives but one in four of those will be diagnosed late – and it will be incurable.

“Prostate cancer is now the most common cancer in the country, and kills the most people.

“So, my message is – go and get tested, it’s no big deal.

“It’s about education and raising awareness.

“I’d also encouraged wives, children and grandchildren to tell their husbands, dads and grandads about this and encourage them to book in with a doctor and ask for a test.”

Chiara De Biase, director of health services, equity and improvement at Prostate Cancer UK, said: “We’re grateful to Jonathan for making the brave decision to share his prostate cancer story publicly, and I’m very happy to hear that he’s doing well now after his treatment.

“Tragically, in Humberside more than one in four men with prostate cancer are diagnosed when it’s too late to be cured. But the good news is the earlier you find prostate cancer, the easier it is to treat — and an earlier diagnosis could save your life.

“Most men with early-stage prostate cancer don’t get any symptoms, so instead of looking for signs of being unwell, it’s vital you know your risk of getting it and what you can do about it.

“If you’re a man over 50, you are at risk of getting prostate cancer and have the right to ask your GP for a simple PSA blood test. If you’re black or you have a family history of prostate cancer, you have an even higher risk and we recommend you talk to your GP about testing from the age of 45.

“Take Prostate Cancer UK’s 30-second online risk checker today to find out your own risk. If you’re worried about prostate cancer, you can also talk to our specialist nurses on 0800 074 8383 or via the Prostate Cancer UK website.”

• To carry out the Prostate Cancer risk checker, visit https://prostatecanceruk.org/risk-checker