BBCBBC Radio Scotland sports broadcaster Kenny Macintyre has revealed he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
The 57-year-old announced the news on air during Off the Ball, speaking to presenters Tam Cowan and Stuart Cosgrove.
Kenny, of Dunblane, said he insisted on three-monthly tests because of his family history – three of his uncles had the disease. He will get treatment soon.
His announcement comes as a UK expert body recommended that only men with a confirmed genetic risk of prostate cancer should be screened for the disease.
The UK National Screening Committee – which advises governments across the UK – has declined to screen except for men with specific genetic mutations that cause more aggressive tumors.
Tests for this disease are unreliable, and may lead to men being treated for a slow-growing cancer that will do them no harm.
The treatment itself can also cause incontinence and impotence, which can significantly impact quality of life.
Speaking on Saturday Morning Off the Ball, Kenny urged men over 50 who have a family history of prostate cancer to insist on regular PSA testing – a blood test that measures the amount of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a protein produced by the prostate gland.
As a result of Kenny’s regular tests, an increasing trend was observed in his overall PSA levels, which led to an MRI scan and biopsy confirming that cancer was present.
He said, “Obviously this is not the news that anyone wants to be told, but I was very fortunate that I caught it early, and I believe that was only because I insisted on regular testing.”
“I had no symptoms at all and all the tests showed that things were normal. Had it not been for this routine checkup, which revealed a rising trend in my PSA levels, things could have been very different.”
He added: “As it is, I have a number of treatment options available to me, which will probably mean staying away from the airwaves for a while, but for now I’m taking each day as it comes and getting on with life.
“I’m lucky to have such strong support around me – my family, work colleagues and NHS staff have all been fantastic.”
Hayley Valentine, director of BBC Scotland, said: “We are saddened to hear Kenny’s news, but commend him for deciding to share it with our listeners in the hope that it may encourage more men to get tested.
“Kenny has the full support of BBC Scotland and I know listeners will join me in wishing him all the best.”
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men and kills 12,000 men every year across the UK.
Six-time Olympic cycling gold medalist Sir Chris Hoy, who has terminal prostate cancer, said he was “disappointed and saddened” that screening was unlikely to be introduced more widely.
Scott said, “I know firsthand that by sharing my story after my own diagnosis two years ago, many lives have been saved. Early detection and diagnosis saves lives.”
Prostate Cancer UK said the committee’s recommendation “will be a blow” to thousands of men. However, Cancer Research UK said it supported the experts’ advice.
There will be a three-month consultation before the committee meets again and gives its final advice to the ministers of England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, who will make their own decision on prostate screening.
Kenny Macintyre presents Open All Mic on BBC Radio Scotland and Sportssound on BBC Radio Scotland on BBC One Scotland.
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