From Silent Diagnosis to National Campaign: How One PSA Test Changed a Father’s Life

“A simple blood test saved my life.” Dad launches nationwide awareness campaign after prostate cancer diagnosis.

Sat in the hotel where he once took his health assessment, Jason Yeo, 54, South Devon, reflects on his prostate cancer journey – from asymptomatic to a nationwide awareness campaign.

Jason had a Bluecrest health MOT at the beginning of 2023, after his wife booked it and added on a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test.

He had no symptoms, was fit and well, and playing squash to a county level. But his results showed one reading outside the normal range. His PSA level was 4.94ng/ml, and was flagged as ‘amber’ since it was over the 3.5ng/ml threshold for men age 50-59.1

Jason was advised to follow up with his GP, where repeat blood tests over the following months showed his PSA levels continuing to rise. But it wasn’t until 2024, nearly a year later, that further action was taken.

“I pushed for everything – the MRI, the biopsy.” His prostate cancer diagnosis was eventually confirmed.

Initially, Jason was told it was low risk – a Gleason 6 – and advised to undergo active surveillance. But something didn’t sit right.

“I didn’t want to just sit and wait with cancer in my body,” he says. “So, I kept pushing.”

Through further research and support from a specialist charity, Prost8 UK, Jason was referred to Imperial College Hospital in London, where he underwent cryotherapy – a targeted treatment that freezes and destroys cancer cells.

The diagnosis was later upgraded to a more aggressive Gleason 7.

In males in the UK, prostate cancer is the most common cancer, with around 55,900 new cases every year.2

Yet Jason’s experience highlights the challenges many face in getting timely diagnosis – particularly when symptoms are absent. Looking back, he credits the initial PSA test with saving his life.

“It all goes back to that PSA test,” he says. “I’m ridiculously grateful to my wife for booking it – and to Bluecrest for offering it. Without that, I don’t know where I’d be now.”

Now, Jason is focused on raising awareness among other men, particularly those without symptoms who may feel perfectly healthy.

“You know, no symptoms, no issues. Just a standard 50-plus male whose life changed overnight,” he says.

Since his diagnosis, he has launched a grassroots awareness campaign encouraging men over 45 to get tested. What started with posters in local venues has rapidly grown into a nationwide initiative.

His campaign message, ‘A PSA test saved my life. It could save yours’, is now displayed on more than 120 advertising boards at football clubs across the UK, including professional and grassroots teams.

“It’s become bigger than I ever imagined,” Jason says. “People just want to help because so many have been affected by prostate cancer in some way.”

Jason is also continuing to closely monitor his health following treatment. While his PSA levels initially dropped, they have since begun to rise again, raising the possibility that further cancer may be present.

He is now undergoing additional investigations, with the likelihood of further treatment in the coming months. For now, he expects to return to specialist care at Imperial College, where he may undergo further targeted therapy.

Despite the uncertainty, Jason remains resolute, both about his own care and his wider mission.

“If I hadn’t taken that test when I did, this could have been a very different story,” he says. “My goal is simple,” he adds. “Get checked early, know your numbers, and take control of your health. Because catching it early can make all the difference.”

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References

NICE. Prostate cancer: How should I assess a person with suspected prostate cancer? Available at: https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/prostate-cancer/diagnosis/assessment/. Accessed: April 2026

Cancer Research UK. Prostate Cancer Statistics. Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/prostate-cancer. Accessed: April 2026