It sounds more like he stopped getting checked years ago, and ignored warning signs due to life pressures.
It never did, and Martin slipped into a routine that included juggling long hours at the office, raising three teenage boys, racing cars, skiing, and cycling."
After reading the "slipped into a routine..." part I took it to mean that he stopped getting the annual tests, thinking that he'd done it long enough to satisfy himself that he wasn't going to get the disease. Sounds like I read it the same way sliverstorm did.