“Opening up helped me start living my life to the fullest”: Darryn’s journey through prostate cancer and its emotional impact.

Darryn Stewart hadn’t thought much about prostate cancer before turning 55. Although his dad had it and had his prostate removed when he was 67 years old, Darryn still saw himself as a young man – fit, healthy, and out on the golf course most weeks – and thought it was something to deal with later in life.

But then he started to have problems weeing. And with a weakening flow that was becoming more concerning, Darryn asked his GP for tests to find out what was going on.

The results of an initial blood test came as a shock.

His PSA level was high at 56, making him concerned about the possibility of prostate cancer.

Despite this worry, Darryn kept the news to himself and went on a golf trip with his friends a few days later.

Filled with anxiety, Darryn found himself drinking more than usual on holiday and his friends noticed that he wasn’t himself. Still, he found it impossible to share – even though five of the 12 men on the trip had experienced cancer themselves. Looking back, he finds his silence difficult to understand.

“I was actually sharing a room with a mate who’s been through prostate cancer, a hardened pro as he’d call it, and yet I still couldn’t tell him. I hadn’t told my wife or my kids, so how could I talk to him about it? It’s crazy because he really could have helped me, at a time when my mind had gone to some dark places and I was thinking the worst.”

"I thought I was going to die”: the shock of diagnosis

When Darryn got home, he went for more tests, scans, and a flow test for his problems weeing. After a series of appointments, he received the news he had feared. He had advanced prostate cancer that had spread outside the prostate.

As his wife Debbie was away on holiday, his son Darryl attended the appointment with him.

"I asked the doctor how long I had left and they wouldn't answer. I was frustrated and stopped listening to their advice about getting treatment, chemo and all the other options.

“I thought I was going to die, so what's the point prolonging it?  

“But Darryl had a word with me and set me straight. He told me to listen to the doctors and that we'd get through this together. He's a good boy and I will always be thankful to him for getting my head straight and helping me to take the doctor’s advice."

Treatment, side effects, and trying to hold onto normal life

Darryn started chemotherapy in September, which continued until just before Christmas. He experienced side effects including losing his sense of taste, which made the festive period especially challenging. 

"I couldn't taste a thing on chemo, but my wife helped me see the funny side. She brought out a plate of cardboard for Christmas dinner and told me the turkey would be wasted on me! We all laughed about that, and it helped me see what I had, and why I was fighting so hard to get through this."   

He also underwent cold cap treatment and continued working every day, alongside playing golf every Saturday to maintain routine. 

Fatigue often forced Darryn to cut work short, and his golf was far from his usual standard but keeping his life as normal as possible helped him cope.

A breakthrough from treatment and research

Darryn decided to join the STAMPEDE2 clinical trial, which is exploring whether adding radiotherapy to hormone therapy and chemotherapy can improve outcomes for men with advanced prostate cancer. 

Although he found daily radiotherapy sessions difficult and often anxiety inducing, he got through them with support from his family. 

Then came positive news. 

His PSA levels began to fall. 

After further tests and scans, Darryn was told his PSA had dropped below 1 and that his cancer was no longer detectable in his body. 

“I was over the moon to get that news” Darryn said. 

“It’s now around 0.04, but I really wanted 0.07 so I could be like James Bond! It’s silly targets like that that keep your spirits up, but I am so glad that I don’t need any more treatment for just now.”

How YouTube duo Woody and Kleiny are supporting Darryn and Prostate Cancer UK

Darryn’s story has inspired support from YouTube duo Woody and Kleiny, who are backing us in his honour as part of their latest challenge – travelling across the United States during their World Cup road trip.

The connection is a personal one. Darryn has known the two for years through his son Darryl who manages them.

“I’ve know Woody and Kleiny for years, way before they got famous. Kleiny is my son Darryl’s best mate so I’ve known him since he was 11. I even opened up the school to give them a space to practice their routine for Britain’s Got Talent…and the rest is history!”

For Darryn, seeing them get behind us has been a meaningful reminder of how far support can reach.

Leaning on friends and finding support

Despite the positive outcome, Darryn describes the difficult emotional shift once that phase of treatment ended. 

“I did then feel almost lonely after it all ended,” he said. “No more appointments or tests every week.” 

For Darryn, the sudden absence of structure and constant support was difficult to adjust to, and he wished he’d received help through it. 

It was only later – during another golf trip with the same group of friends – that Darryn finally felt ready to talk about everything he had been through. 

A year earlier, he had kept his fears to himself. This time was different. 

“I took my chance on the trip to chat to them about it, and it just felt right.”   

The conversation turned out to be exactly what he needed. Before long, everyone was sharing their own stories, and checking in with each other, helping Darryn process the emotional impact of his diagnosis and treatment in a way he hadn’t managed to before. 

“I could’ve, and maybe should’ve, got counselling for all I’d been through, but opening up to my mates and hearing them tell me what they’d been through too, you can’t beat that.”

Today, Darryn says he’s got his “mojo back”.  

He’s completing the “Couch to 5k” challenge and preparing to run the Bournemouth 10k for us in October 2026.

“There’s support out there”

Darryn’s now sharing his story so that more men know their risk – which increases if you’re over 50, if you’re Black or if you have a family history of prostate cancer like Darryn – and speak to their GP about a test if they are at higher risk. But he also wants those with prostate cancer to know they’re not alone and to speak up sooner and seek support.

“I just want men going through tough treatments like chemo to know that it can get better and to talk to those you love about what you are going through” said Darryn.

“There’s support out there, either through places like Prostate Cancer UK which has Specialist Nurses you can talk to on the phone, or other places where you can get counselling."

Because for Darryn, the biggest lesson has been simple – no one should have to carry the emotion of their prostate cancer journey all on their own.