When Kevin Hurley (61) noticed unusual pressure in his knee, he assumed it was just a cycling injury. However, doctors eventually discovered that it was a symptom of malignant cancer. , he is currently undergoing intensive treatment to slow the progression of the disease.
- In May 2021, Kevin noticed a swelling in his knee, for which he visited a doctor.
- Examinations revealed a swollen lymph node in the abdomen.
- Extreme prostate-specific antigen values led to the diagnosis of prostate cancer.
It is believed that Kevin, from Newbury, England, who worked as a heating engineer, may have had symptoms of cancer as early as 2018. At the time, he had chest pains, but after an electrocardiogram (ECG) showed no abnormalities, he was told there was nothing to worry about.
But when a swelling appeared in his knee in May 2021 that did not go away, he decided to visit the hospital. His doctor thought that circulation problems might have caused the symptom and sent him for blood tests. The results indicated complications that doctors suspected were pulmonary embolism – a life-threatening condition in which a clot becomes lodged in a pulmonary artery and blocks blood flow.
The next day, Kevin had an ultrasound, but even then he knew something was wrong. Later, he underwent an X-ray and an MRI scan, which revealed a swollen lymph node in his abdomen. Finally, he received a preliminary diagnosis of lymphoma – cancer of the lymphatic system.
After the initial detection of the disease, further tests showed that Kevin’s prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level was extremely high. Based on this, doctors diagnosed him with stage four prostate cancer. “It was like someone hit me with a hammer. The nurse was telling me I had two to five years left to live. I tried to negotiate if it could be extended somehow. I felt almost invincible before and suddenly realized I was going to die,” stated a broken Kevin.
Although the Englishman needed a few weeks to process the news, he decided to change his outlook on life and focus on the positives. Kevin immediately began taking blood thinners and undergoing hormone therapy to block testosterone to slow the growth of the cancer. “Everyone dies, so it made me live even more intensely“, he noted.
In the fall of 2021, six sessions of chemotherapy at three-week intervals awaited him. He decided to wear a cooling cap to reduce hair loss. In the spring of the following year, Kevin began radiotherapy and a follow-up examination showed that the cancer had not progressed.
During 2022 and 2023, his PSA values remained low. At the beginning of 2024, they rose again, which signaled that the hormone treatment was no longer effective. Later examinations showed no visible signs of cancer. Doctors found only scars on the pelvic bone where it used to be. In January 2025, Kevin started a new form of hormone therapy to lower his PSA level, but said he had no idea how long it would be effective.
Following his diagnosis, Kevin started a tandem cycling project with his local cycling club, taking blind teenagers and adults on guided rides. In addition, he raises money for the organization Prostate Cancer UK through a collection on the GoFundMe page.
“I don’t know how much time I have left, but in many ways my life is better now than before. I want other people with prostate cancer to know that they don’t have to feel hopeless,” he concluded.
