Scans reveal twin brothers
each have danger condition

TWIN brothers from South Yorkshire have both been discovered to have the same illness after being given free screening checks.

Chris and Keith Hare, 65, and from West Malton, Rotherham, and Mexborough respectively, were sent invitations for the free NHS Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) ultrasound scans last year.

Both men booked appointments for the scans at screening clinics near their homes and were shocked not only to find that they both had the condition, but that they had almost identically sized aneurysms only a millimetre apart.

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The two will now have their aneurysms – classed as being small and of least risk – monitored every year to ensure they do not continue to grow and are urging other men to undergo the same checks.

Doncaster & Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has been commissioned to provide the programme across South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw.

So far nearly 8,000 men have taken up the offer of screening that takes less than 10 minutes.

Vascular surgeon Ray Cuschieri, who is also deputy medical director of the NHS trust, said: “Family history is a factor with AAAs, with people being more likely to have the condition if a relative has an AAA.

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“So it is good news that Chris and Keith took up the offer of the free scan as we now have them in the AAA programme and can check their aneurysms on a regular basis.

“The brothers are two of 133 men who have been found with aneurysms in the year since our screening programme started work in 2013.

“Of these, 14 men have been found with large aneurysms or AAAs at serious risk of rupture, so that is 14 lives potentially saved.

“This shows the value of the programme and I would again ask all men in our area who are 65 or over to consider having the scan and to call us to make an appointment,” the surgeon added.

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In England and Wales, an estimated 80,000 men aged between 65 and 74 are affected by AAAs, which are caused when the main blood vessel in the abdomen – the aorta – weakens and starts to expand.

If undetected, the aorta can rupture – a medical emergency that is usually fatal.

About 6,000 people die every year from ruptured AAAs.