Colin McFarlane: "I hope all the things I'm campaigning about get real traction and change people's lives"

Last December, actor Colin McFarlane was processing his recent prostate cancer diagnosis and considering how to tell his children. A lot has happened since then and this week he rounded off a packed year of campaigning and awareness work at our London carol concert, raising smiles with two readings of heart-warming Christmas poems. We spoke to Colin as he reflected on his health and work in 2023. 

It's been a year since you were diagnosed. How are you feeling about living with prostate cancer? 

“Now I feel I'm in a great place but I started the year a bit concerned. I knew I'd been lucky - my cancer was low-risk and caught very early and I'd been told I might never need treatment. But in the back of my mind I was thinking, can low risk become high risk? And if I ever need treatment will I have to face the side effects of incontinence or not being able to get an erection? 

"Having supported someone else through cancer though I'd learned that if you can understand and face it, suddenly it's less alarming. And that's what happened with me. I did my research and once I understood what I was dealing with and learned more about the range of treatments, I was far more comfortable.” 

You've done a lot this year to try and spread the word. 

“Yes, I was part of your campaign around Men's Health Week and Father's Day and appeared on a host of TV and radio shows to talk about the campaign. It was so rewarding knowing that it was successful and inspired people to take action.  

"But what was really amazing was doing the March for Men and meeting real people, so many people, and hearing their prostate cancer stories and what they'd been through. It was humbling to hear people say that seeing me on TV talking about prostate cancer was a comfort and that they’d come along because they were inspired by what I had to say. It reaffirmed why I'm doing what I'm doing – that the message to check your risk is getting through and changing lives. It was truly inspiring - a really, really special day.” 

We're delighted that you spoke at our London Carol concert this week. How are you feeling about Christmas? 

“I was honoured to be asked to read at Prostate Cancer UK’s carol concert. It was a lovely way to kick off Christmas and, of course, it’s another chance to raise funds and awareness for the charity. It was a moving and an uplifting evening of carols, poems and mulled wine. 

“I’ve always loved Christmas and spending time with family but this year it will be bittersweet because my mum sadly passed away in January. So it will be tough for us and for my dad, who is 88. When you've lost someone, the first Christmas is always difficult. But we'll be there to support him and each other.” 

And what are your hopes for 2024? 

“I hope to stay healthy. And I hope all the things I'm campaigning about get real traction and change people's lives. 1 in 4 Black men will get prostate cancer but there's a real issue getting enough Black men to come forward for research or for testing. And I see a connection between that and how the establishment have treated people of colour. Trust is gone and we must get that back so more Black men will come forward and take part in vital research. I want to see a more understanding and compassionate world.  

“And I want to see increased awareness of prostate cancer. If men catch it early, as I have, we can save dads, partners, grandads, brothers, sons, uncles and friends. But there's still a staggering lack of awareness. I very, very rarely meet a man who knows much about prostate cancer, unless they've been affected, and I mention it to every man over the age of 45 who I meet. Most people I speak to don't know where it is or what it does. We have to change that." 

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