I asked for a PSA test on a whim, then found out I had prostate cancer

Telegraph

29-07-2025

Paul Henderson received his official diagnosis of Stage 2 prostate cancer on June 17. In this weekly diary, he will be sharing what life is like after diagnosis: the tests, the scans, the fear, and what it's like when you have to sit down with your loved ones to tell them that you have cancer.
I got the call that changed my life at 3:04pm on Tuesday April 15. It was a short two-minute conversation with my doctor. The next day I received a copy of my referral letter. It read: Urgent Suspected Cancer.
My contribution to that phone call was minimal. A sequence of the words 'OK', 'Right', 'Oh…' and 'Thanks for calling'. As my doctor explained my test results, what hit me was a mixture of surprise, shock and fear. I understood what she was saying. But as I sat at my desk and stared blankly out of my office window, I simply couldn't process the information. The news was bad, I got that, but just how bad was it? My mind raced with all the possible outcomes then slowly I tried to get things in perspective. 'Don't panic,' I told myself. 'Maybe it's not as terrible as you think it is.'
I didn't know it then, but within three months that quick chat would become a formal diagnosis of stage 2 prostate cancer and then me on an operating table having life-changing surgery. Time flies when you aren't having fun, right?
As a 56-year-old journalist who has worked in the media for over 30 years covering a variety of subjects, including health, I like to think that not much fazes me. As the associate editor for British GQ, I've ridden motorbikes with Keanu Reeves, swapped recipes with Robert De Niro, sung an impromptu duet with Mike Tyson and advised Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson to get into politics, all without batting an eyelid. But cancer blindsided me.
When I went to see my doctor early in 2025, it wasn't for anything specific. For a few months – perhaps more months than I realised – I hadn't been feeling myself. I was tired, lacking in energy and had started suffering from back pain. I had slightly high cholesterol and blood pressure, but I also felt like something wasn't quite right, as though I'd lost a little of my mojo. Welcome to your mid-50s, I thought.
But my wife Marilyn viewed me differently. Not only had she noticed my general malaise, she was also starting to worry that I was getting worse. I was becoming irritable, impatient and generally out of sorts. So she encouraged me to make an appointment at my local health centre.
And like all good husbands, I did as I was told.
On the surface there was nothing much to worry about. I don't smoke, don't drink much, my weight is average and I work out a couple of times a week, so I'm pretty fit (if a little boring). My wife and I walk our mini-dachshund, Ziggy Pup, every morning, so I always get my 10,000 steps in. We try to cook healthy food, we socialise and recently celebrated our 26th wedding anniversary. As a freelance journalist with my own creative media agency, I had plenty to keep me busy. And although our kids still live at home, they are both old enough (Nyah is 22 and Fox is 20) to look after themselves (most of the time). And after a routine examination everything seemed to be OK.
However, just as I was about to leave I asked my GP if perhaps I should have a PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test. I didn't have any specific symptoms (no frequent trips to the toilet at night, no problems with erections etc) and there was no history of prostate cancer in my family. It certainly wasn't something I was worried about – it just seemed like a good idea at the time. She readily agreed and I made the necessary arrangements for a blood test. Then simply got on with my life.
It was a couple of weeks later when I got the call that changed everything. 'We've had the results back from your PSA test and they have come back elevated,' Dr Mahmood told me. I was stunned. The word that stuck in my head was 'elevated'. What did that mean? Was it slightly too high? Way too high? Does that mean I have cancer?
I'd like to tell you that these were the questions I asked. They weren't. I just dropped in a few polite affirmations to convey that I was listening and waited for her to finish. 'So I am going to refer you to the urology department at Whipps Cross Hospital and then we will have a better idea,' she told me. 'But just to let you know, the letter might sound worrying, but that is just NHS protocol to ensure you are seen within two weeks.' And that was it.
When Marilyn came home from work, I told her about the phone call. I had to watch as she tried to absorb what I was saying. Not only was it the first time I had had to tell someone I loved that I might have cancer, she is the most important person in my life. The words stuck in my throat (it would not be the last time) and we were both in tears. After I had explained what happened, the first question she asked was what the PSA score had been. I didn't know. Not only that, I didn't even know what to ask. I felt almost comically hopeless and we laughed.
The next day I called the surgery and asked for a copy of the test result. My PSA was 18.1. It should be less than 3. And that's when I became a case of Urgent Suspected Cancer.
I was in the system. I was also scared.
Frequently asked questions
How should I ask my GP for a PSA test?
The PSA blood test is available free to men who request it, and you can book an appointment with your GP to discuss the potential pros and cons of the test.
However, the PSA test isn't suitable for everyone, so GPs will use their clinical judgement and may advise against it. For example, GPs are unlikely to recommend a PSA blood test if your general health means you wouldn't be fit enough for treatment, or if treatment is unlikely to help you live longer.