Laurie Whelan, a retired scientist, was not convinced when his brother urged him to go for a prostate cancer check.

He could not figure out any symptoms of the cancer in himself and he always thought that he can never have it despite both his brothers having been diagnosed with the cancer.

Whelan’s GP was also not sure about the test and always stated that the cancer does not run in families.

Laurie had to learn a lesson himself and now it is known that the case is not so.

Genetic flaws behind making some men more prone to the disease are being tracked down by Laurie and his three sons.

A study is being conducted to figure out if there is sufficient knowledge of genetics of this disease to screen men who have a family history of the disease and they are taking part in it.

Laurie's son Tim, aged 49 and from London, says, “There aren't that many people with such a strong family history.”

Two generations of the Whelan family have been affected by prostate cancer.

In their 50s, Laurie’s both brothers were diagnosed with the condition and due to unrelated conditions they both had died later.