Police and Crime Commissioner Jonathan Evison Raises Awareness for Prostate Cancer During Awareness Month

Jonathan Evison, Police and Crime Commissioner, is raising awareness, alongside Prostate Cancer UK, about prostate cancer during the March awareness month following a diagnosis. 

In the summer of 2023, Jonathan was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Initially opting for surgery to remove his prostate, he was advised to undergo treatment instead due to pre-existing health conditions. Jonathan underwent 20 rounds of external beam radiation in early summer 2024 and was declared cancer-free in December 2024.

Jonathan Evison said "Being diagnosed with prostate cancer was a life-changing moment for me. My father had an enlarged prostate so I was aware of the symptoms and what to look out for. I started noticing something may be wrong when I was getting up multiple times during the night to go to the toilet, and once noticed blood in my urine. 

“I now want to share my story and highlight the importance of early detection and encourage men to get checked. Prostate cancer is now the most common cancer in England, and 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with it. Early diagnosis can save lives.

“I can not stress enough the importance of regular check-ups and using tools like the Prostate Cancer UK online risk checker, which can assess a man's risk in just 30 seconds” (available at prostatecanceruk.org/risk-checker).

Prostate cancer often presents no symptoms in its early stages, making it crucial for men to be aware of their risk factors. Men over 50, Black men, and those with a family history of prostate cancer are at higher risk. 

March is Prostate Cancer awareness month and Jonathan's message is clear: early detection and awareness is key. By sharing his story, he hopes to inspire men to take proactive steps in managing their health and to reduce the number of late-stage diagnoses.

In the Humber region, approximately 11,287 men are living with or after prostate cancer, with over 1,100 new diagnoses each year. Alarmingly, more than 1 in 4 of these men are diagnosed at Stage 4, when the cancer is incurable.

Jonathan added. "The way prostate cancer is diagnosed today is safer than ever before.  I attended my GP for a simple PSA blood test, a process that was not at all invasive, which I think is important to stress. Many fear they will need a rectal examination and this is not the case, don’t leave it until it is too late. I attended Castle Hill Hospital who were outstanding, where I had an MRI scan to confirm the diagnosis and to look at my options for treatment. I was shocked at the dozens of men sat in the waiting room at all of my appointments, who were receiving the same treatment as me.

“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."

Chiara De Biase, Director of Health Services, Equity & 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 1 in 4 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."