WATCH: Colin McFarlane shares story of prostate cancer diagnosis and a Father’s Day gift for the nation.

You might recognise the news anchor in our ‘What on Earth is a prostate!?’ film as Hollywood star Colin McFarlane. Colin generously gave his enormous talent and time to help spread a life-saving message with us for Men’s Health Week and Father’s Day. He also graced the BBC Breakfast sofa and Channel 5 news to share his story. In the last week alone, around 90,000 people have checked their risk because of this campaign.

Colin, 61, and his brother were both diagnosed with prostate cancer in the same year. They were both diagnosed when they had no symptoms. Thanks to a conversation with fellow actor, the late John Shrapnel who died of prostate cancer, Colin was aware of his increased risk and had been having regular PSA blood tests, and caught it early. Now he’s determined to pass the life-saving message to every man in the UK.

In the interview below, Colin reflects on conversations about prostate cancer with his Dad, his children and shares his hopes for the future.

Watch Colin’s message and dive into his interview below

Colin, let's begin by reflecting on your childhood. Did your father talk to you about his health?

He did but it was only in recent years that he revealed he had a biopsy for an enlarged prostate and had to check for prostate cancer. Thankfully, my father's condition was benign. He kept it from the family because he didn't want to worry us. At that time, neither my middle brother Gary nor I had been diagnosed, and he was unaware of any potential genetic link. However, since both Gary and I have been diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer, we have naturally discussed it more.

Do you think we’re seeing a shift in men’s behaviour and attitudes across generations?

I can primarily speak for my generation, and men still struggle to talk about health-related matters. However, as we grow older and face more health issues, men seem to become more open to conversations. My friend Paul Whitehouse started a fishing show on the BBC to discuss these things because he noticed men were becoming more vocal about their health. Personally, once I initiate the subject, men start opening up to me. However, coaxing is often necessary, some individuals find it easier to discuss these matters than others, regardless of gender.

Have you spoken to your children about prostate cancer? 

Yes. It was a delicate subject because each of my children has experienced cancer's impact in different ways. I have a son, Josh (32), with my wife Kate, and we also welcomed two Scottish children, Jonny (29) and Em (27), into our lives after their mother passed away from cancer when they were just 15 and 12, respectively. Josh lost a close friend to cancer during his school years, and he was deeply involved in supporting him, even raising funds for his treatment through various initiatives. Cancer naturally carries emotional weight for him. Talking to our Scottish children was a delicate matter because I didn't want them to fear losing their ‘new’ father to cancer. I had to be careful, educate them about the disease, and provide reassurance. Initially, they were shocked and worried, but after explaining that I caught it early, had no symptoms, and any treatment would be a decade or more away, they started to worry less. I think it will always linger in the back of their minds to some extent. Keeping them informed and updated has helped them understand and they’ve even researched the topic themselves. As a result, they now feel more at ease and are delighted that I can educate and raise awareness among the public.

Did they have much knowledge about the disease before your conversation?

No, they had very little knowledge. Josh spoke about the digital rectal examination, often referred to as the ‘dreaded finger up the bum check.’ But as we know it’s a myth that it’s the main test, they  weren't aware of the need for regular PSA blood tests for those at risk. Em mentioned she didn't realise prostate cancer was as common as it is, and none of them knew about the higher risk faced by Black men, or the fact that one in four Black men get prostate cancer. They were also surprised to learn that early-stage prostate cancer often has no symptoms. They expected discussions about chemotherapy or radiotherapy, so they were greatly relieved when they discovered that wasn't the case.

Looking ahead, how do you hope things will be different when your children reach your age?

I hope campaigns like this one gain traction and significantly increase awareness across generations. It's crucial to highlight the possibility of genetic links so that individuals understand how one person's diagnosis can impact the entire family. For example, Josh will likely need PSA tests starting at the age of 45. The late actor John Shrapnel, who shared this information with me and died from the disease, had his sons start testing at 40. By the time my children reach my age, I hope there will be much greater awareness. I’m determined to make that a reality by continuing to advocate for this cause, educate others, encourage dialogue among men and women, and ultimately save as many lives as possible.

Follow Colin MacFarlane on Twitter and Instagram.

This Father's day, let's help our dads, brothers, sons and mates separate fact from fiction and make more informed choices. Learn more about the campaign and common myths on our campaign hub. 

Prostate cancer is treatable if caught early - and that’s why it’s crucial to check your risk and share the risk checker with the men you love. It takes just 30 seconds and could save a life.

Check your risk now