Survivor Saves Lives After Losing 3 Brothers to Cancer

When Simeon Greene told his brothers about his prostate cancer diagnosis, he expected support but discovered something heartbreaking instead. All three of them had secretly been fighting the same disease, never sharing their struggles until that moment.

The 60-year-old from Wolverhampton lost all three brothers to prostate cancer. Determined to understand why, he dug into his family history and uncovered a staggering pattern: as many as 54 relatives may have battled the condition.

"I was shocked to discover my brothers also had prostate cancer when I told them about my diagnosis," Greene said. "There is a clear reluctance to talk about it, and that has to change."

Greene first noticed symptoms at age 49 in 2015, but wasn't diagnosed until the following year. Now cancer-free, he works as a patient advocate for West Midlands Cancer Alliance, turning his family's tragedy into a lifesaving mission.

His message is urgent and specific: Black men over 40 with a family history should ask their doctor about a PSA blood test, even without symptoms. The simple blood test measures protein levels that can detect early signs of prostate cancer.

The stakes are especially high for Black communities. Black men are twice as likely to develop prostate cancer, with one in four affected. They're also more likely to be diagnosed at later stages when treatment becomes much harder.

"While there is no national screening programme, men can still be proactive and ask their GP about it," Greene emphasized. He wants men to know the PSA test is just a simple blood test, nothing to fear or avoid.

The Ripple Effect

Greene's advocacy is reaching beyond his own community. He's speaking at a Prostate Cancer UK conference at Wolverhampton's Molineux Stadium, sharing his story with healthcare workers and families who need to hear it.

Keith Morgan from Prostate Cancer UK reinforced the urgency: "Too many black men are being diagnosed with incurable prostate cancer. We must act now to prevent more families from being affected."

More than 64,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year in the UK, making it the most commonly diagnosed cancer. The disease claims over 12,000 lives annually, many of which could potentially be prevented through earlier detection.

Greene's work is helping break down the silence that cost his brothers their lives. By encouraging open conversations about prostate health and pushing men to advocate for their own screening, he's creating a culture where early detection becomes the norm rather than the exception.

One family's devastating loss is becoming countless families' second chance at catching cancer early enough to beat it.