Lancaster doctor fundraises for prostate cancer study after being treated for disease himself
Lancaster consultant Dr Shashi Garg and his wife Dr Anu Garg raised £1,836 to help fund a study investigating a potential new screening test for prostate cancer after learning about the research when Dr Shashi was diagnosed with the disease.
Consultant orthopaedic surgeon Dr Shashi, who worked at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary and Westmorland General Hospital before his recent retirement, found out he had prostate cancer in August 2025.
Dr Shashi was placed under the care of consultant clinical oncologist Prof Alison Birtle at Rosemere Cancer Centre, Lancashire and south Cumbria’s regional specialist cancer treatment and radiotherapy centre at the Royal
Preston Hospital.
It was while he was undergoing hormone therapy and radiotherapy at Rosemere Cancer Centre that Dr Anu, a psychotherapist, EMDR specialist and associate lecturer at Lancaster University Medical School, discovered
Prof Birtle was involved in the study, which is exploring a new technology called LAMP (Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification).
Dr Shashi, whose prognosis is good and who is expecting to be given the all clear next year, said: “Over the years, I have treated a lot of patients with hip, knee and foot problems linked to running injuries but when Dr Birtle said it was important to be fit for my treatment, I decided to commit to running regularly and use it to help fundraise in support of the LAMP study.
"I believe that through my work, I have learned how to avoid injuries.”
Having run his first organised 5k last December while undergoing radiotherapy, Dr Shashi entered May’s Manchester Half Marathon, which he successfully completed with sponsorship.
Dr Anu then boosted her husband’s total by being sponsored to swim 1km, which she did in the pool at Lancaster House Hotel.
Dr Shashi is now hoping to run another half marathon at the end of September in Sydney, Australia, on a visit to daughter Priya, who is also a medic, working as a consultant and specialist in infectious diseases.
Dr Shashi added: “We are very grateful to all our friends, family and colleagues for their sponsorship. When I was going through my treatment, I found running a good diversion. It helped to take my mind off everything that was going on around me.”
The Gargs presented their donation to Prof Birtle and Dan Hill, chief officer of Rosemere Cancer Foundation and head of charities for Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which manages Rosemere Cancer Centre.
Dan said: “Our thanks to Dr Shashi and Dr Anu for this fantastic donation, which we are delighted to put towards Prof Birtle’s LAMP study.”
“The study is very much in its early stages but if results go as hoped, its potential in terms of a possible future prostate cancer screening programme is huge.”
Rosemere Cancer Foundation works to bring world class cancer treatments and services to cancer patients from throughout Lancashire and south Cumbria being treated not only at Rosemere Cancer Centre but also at
another eight hospital cancer units across the two counties, including at both hospitals where Dr Shashi worked.
The charity funds the latest in cutting edge equipment, clinical research, staff training and innovative services and initiatives that the NHS cannot afford in order to make patients’ cancer journey more effective, comfortable and stress-free.
For further information on its work, including how to make a donation, visit www.rosemere.org.uk