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Kenny Macintyre, a sports broadcaster with BBC Radio Scotland, has shared publicly that he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. At 57 years old and hailing from Dunblane, Kenny revealed the diagnosis during a live broadcast of the radio show *Off the Ball*, where he was speaking with presenters Tam Cowan and Stuart Cosgrove. Motivated by a family history—three of his uncles suffered from prostate cancer—he advocated for regular testing every three months, which ultimately led to the discovery of his illness. He is now preparing to undergo treatment.
This personal announcement coincides with new guidance from the UK’s National Screening Committee, which recommends that routine prostate cancer screening should be limited to men carrying specific genetic mutations associated with more aggressive forms of the disease. The committee advises against widespread screening since current tests often produce unreliable results, sometimes leading to unnecessary treatment of slow-growing cancers that would not have caused any harm. Additionally, treatments may result in side effects such as incontinence and impotence, significantly impacting the patient’s quality of life.
During his interview on *Off the Ball*, Kenny urged men over the age of 50 with a family history of prostate cancer to insist on regular PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood tests. His vigilant approach uncovered a consistent rise in his PSA levels, which triggered follow-up MRI scans and a biopsy that confirmed the presence of cancer. Reflecting on his experience, Kenny said, “Obviously it’s not the news anyone wants to be told but I am very lucky to have caught this early, and I believe that is only because I pushed for regular testing.” He also emphasized how difficult it was to share the news with his children, despite having strong support from family, friends, and colleagues.
Kenny spoke about the available treatment options and the impact his diagnosis would have on his work, noting: “As it stands, I have several treatment options available to me which will probably mean a spell away from the airwaves at some point but now I’m just taking each day as it comes and getting on with life.” Hayley Valentine, director of BBC Scotland, expressed support, saying the broadcaster has “the full support of BBC Scotland” and that she, along with listeners, wished him well. Highlighting the wider context, prostate cancer remains the most common cancer in men within the UK, claiming around 12,000 lives annually. Sir Chris Hoy, a six-time Olympic cycling gold medallist diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer, criticized the limited screening recommendations, emphasizing that early diagnosis saves lives. While Prostate Cancer UK expressed disappointment at the screening committee’s advice, Cancer Research UK supported the decision. The committee will hold a three-month consultation before issuing final guidance to the governments of England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland, each of which will decide how to proceed on prostate cancer screening
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