Prostate Cancer Diagnosis Arises from Routine Bathroom Visits

A father from London, Ed Matthews, discovered he had prostate cancer after noticing he had to get up frequently at night to use the bathroom, a habit that, admittedly, he thought was just a minor inconvenience. “I’ve woken up and gone to the bathroom a few times, but I never thought much about it,” he reflected.

It wasn’t until April 2025 that he received the shocking diagnosis, ignoring earlier signs that something might be wrong with his health.

Typically active, Matthews, who enjoys golfing and skiing, felt “fit and healthy” during a routine medical checkup last April. As part of that checkup, he took a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, which showed a level of 4.2. Though this was higher than the normal threshold of 4.0 ng/mL, doctors deemed it “not too alarming” but still referred him to a urologist for further investigation.

Matthews underwent an MRI, but the results were inconclusive, leading him to a biopsy. “Just a few weeks after my visit, the diagnosis came back: prostate cancer,” he shared.

Feeling as if his life had been flipped upside down, he mentioned, “It was an emotional shock… No one wants to hear they have cancer.”

In July of the same year, he underwent robotic surgery to remove his prostate, and subsequent tests have indicated no evidence of cancer now.

Interestingly, despite being an overall healthy individual, Matthews had started going to the bathroom more frequently over the past year and a half. “I’ve never had problems like that before,” he remarked.

Before his diagnoses, he candidly admitted, “I didn’t really know what a prostate was.” Now, he is gearing up to run in the London Marathon with his daughter to raise awareness for prostate cancer.

Research indicates that approximately 13 out of every 100 American men will develop prostate cancer at some point, and around 35,770 men die from this disease annually in the U.S.

Matthews, reflecting on his journey, expressed a strong desire to encourage others to get tested after what he has faced. “I was very open about my experience, and I think it made a difference for others to take action,” he concluded.

As experts note, early prostate cancer often doesn’t show symptoms, but the need to urinate frequently—especially at night—can be a telling sign as the illness progresses. If anyone notices such changes, consulting a healthcare provider is crucial.