Test proves lifesaver for brothers
When Tony Loach was diagnosed with prostate cancer during a health check, the news proved a lifesaver for his brothers.
When Tony Loach was diagnosed with prostate cancer during a health check, the news proved a lifesaver for his brothers.
It prompted his siblings John and George Loach to also have tests which showed they too were suffering from the disease.
Father-of-two John, who lives in Wordsley, now credits Tony with saving his life because all three brothers have battled back from the family health scare.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men, with 34,000 people told they have the disease each year.
But it still came as a shock for the brothers to be diagnosed at the same time. "Tony spends half of his time in Cyprus and half of his time in the UK," said John, a training manager aged 56, of Pineways.
"When he popped back here after turning 60, he decided to get a health MOT and that's when he found out about the cancer.
"It was at a very early stage but as soon as he was diagnosed, the doctors said if he had any brothers, we should get tested."
Father-of-three Tony, from Kempsey, Worcestershire, convinced youngest brother John to take the test – and he was shocked to discover he too had the potentially-life threatening condition. "None of us had any symptoms so learning I had prostate cancer was a huge shock," said John, who lives with his wife Lesley and sons Andrew, 18 and Christopher, 22.
"My cancer was at an even earlier stage than Tony's and we were both able to have key hole surgery to have our prostate removed."
But eldest brother George, who lives in Smethwick and is now 65, took a little more persuading to have the test. "George was a little bit reluctant to have the test and when he did, it turned out he not only had the disease, but it was at a more advanced stage than mine or Tony's," said John, who works for motor company Subaru.
"He had to have a more complex surgery but they were still able to stop the spread of the disease."
All three brothers have since been given the all clear and are making good progress – but John says they will never forget how lucky they have been.
"I thank my lucky stars every day," said John, whose two sons have been advised to get tested or prostate cancer at the age of 40.
"If our story inspires just one man to go and get tested, then it is all worthwhile," he added.
